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Second Boston Edition. 

CHRISTIAN RESEARCHES: 
ASIA: 

WITH NOTICES 

OF THE 

TRANSLATION OF THE SCRIPTURES 

IHXa T«E 

0titntsil Eansuase0. 

A^ /«ow Ofio^Aer an^el fyintHe midtt of heaven^ hofoing the Evxr« 
X/ASTtNQ Gospel to preach to them that dwell on the earthy and t* 
every nation, and kindred, a^d tongue, and people. Rev. 14:6. 



BY THE 

Rkv. CLAUDIUS BUCHANAN, D.D. 

Author of Star in the East, Memoir, &c. 



To which ig added, 

REV. MELVILLE HORNE'S SERMON, 

Preached in London, yune 4, 1811. 



i 



^ ' BOSTON; 

PUBU8HED BY SAMTIEL T. ARMSTRONG, COBNHILL. 

And sold by him, by A. Lyman & Co. Portiand; H. Whipple, Salem; 
Thomas k Whipple, and E. Little & Co« Kewburyport; S. Rtitler; 
KortbaiQBtOD; A. Shearman, Newbedford; H. Brewer, ProTidence, 
Hale k, Hosmer, Hartford; Beers & Howe, Ne^rhayen; Whiting and 
Watson and J<An Tiebout. Newyork; E. F, Backus, Albany; George 
Weller, Newark/ D. Allinson and Co. Burlington; W.W.Woodward, 
Philadelphia/ J* KingstonrF* Lucas, jr« and F.H.Nicklio, Baltimore. 

1811. Digitized by CjOOgle 



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contekts. 



BWRODUCTION . - - - 13 

The CliiirESE .-•.... 1^ 

The HmDooB ^..'•-^------ 55 

Juggemam; A disaster; Templte-^f the «Homd 

\ S&g;" Festival of the Rutt Jatt-** description of 

the Idol; his lascivious worship; a lihaticm of 

blood; death c^a Woman; expenses of the Idol; 

I a young man devotes himself to the god - - - » 

* Xmmolatfoa of Females --------- 41 

llfumher of Women burned in six months • - • 43 

Lettersof King George I. and Archbishop Wake • 48 

Tranquebar .•-. 53 

Tanjore; Mr. Kolhoff «S 

Tritchinopoly .--,..------• 65 

Versions o^the Scriptures for the Hmdoos - • 6$ 

The CsTLoyBSB; Mr. and Mrs. Palm - - - - 71 

The Malays-^ -. . . . 78 

The Steian Christians in IndiJi - - - • - 85 

The Malabar Bible - - - - *^ 

The Christian Tableu in Cochin H* 

Syriac Bible * - IIS 

RoxiSH Ch&istiAhs in India - - 116 

Inquisition at Goa ---*------- 129 

Account of an Auto nA Fe; Dellon's narrative; - - isa 
Translation of the Scriptures for the Rgmish Chris- 

. tians .;..-.. 143 

The Colleges at Goa 145 

The Persians i*^ 

The Arabians - - --------- 152 

The Arabic School for the Translation of the Scrip- 
tures ----------- 168 

The Jews in Asia i64 

Jubilee Trumpets ^^^ 

Ancient privileges ot the Jews ------ 174 



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CONTENTS- 

Fage. 

The Black Jews *... ire 

Jewish MSS. of the Holy Scriptures 178 

Peculiar Inscription pp^Uyit ImU^gi^ * • * • 183 

The Ten Tribes - ^.^4 -. 4 ,'^ ^ • • . . iss 

Restoration of the Jews ---•--••- 189, 
Versions of the Scriptures iatg^die^ Eastern Lian» 

guages for the Jews - --•-•.•• 198 

BiUiotheca Biblica in Bengal •*•--«• SOI 

The AlLM|BK^N> • ^ • ,- .. ^. - . ^ - • ^tQft 

Eccle^Ucal Establishment for firitish India • - 310 
Letter on.this subject from Dr« Wataoni Biihi^p oi 

Llandaffrt^the Antjhor ^ /^ - -.,• ,. -.^ ^ 2«a^, 
Conclas^onpft)ie Researches r f : *; -i i -- -»-, -* - MT 
Rev. Mr».|ian)ie's Sermon -^ -r - - - '^ *• ♦ r^?l 

>• - ^ ^ - « J . ^ - ^ :„ ,. 'i '. ' .-r ./ 'f;' "^ 









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CHRISTIAN RESEARCHES, 

iSfc. Sfc. 



In his late Discourses before the University of 
Cambridge, the Author noticed incidentljF some 
general circumstances of the darkness of Pagan- 
ism, and of the means which are now employed 
to diffuse the light of Christianity in the £ast« 
Thi3 awakened a desire in some Members of that 
learned Body to know the particulars; for if there 
were a just expectation of success, and if the de- 
sign were conducted in consonance .with the prin- 
ciples and order of the Church of England, it 
might be a proper subject for their countenance 
and co-operation. A more detailed account, 
therefore, will probably be read witM interest. 
Many, doubtless, vvillrejoice.to see the stream of 
Divine knowledge, and civilization flowing to the 
utmost ends of the earth. And even those who 
have hitherto heard of the progress of Christian!, 
ty with little concern, may be induced to regard 
it with a humane solicitude. 

In the College of Fort- William in Bengal, 
there was a department for translating the Scrip- 
tures into the Oriental languages; and, so early as 
1805 (the filth year of its institution) a com- 



1- ' ^ 



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14 Introduction. 

mencement had been made in five languages. 
The first version erf any of the Gospels in the 
Persian and Hindostanee languages which were 
printed in India, issued from the Press of the 
College of Fort- William. The Persian was^u- 
perintended by Lieut. Colonel Colebrooke, and 
the Hindostanee by William Hunter, Esq. The 
Gospels were translated into the Western Malay 
by Thomas Jarrett, Esq. of the Civil Service; 
into the Orism language by Pooroosh Ram, the 
Orissa PundW; and, into the Mahratta language 
by Vydyj||||th, the Mahratta Pundit, undec the 
superint^ance of Dr. William Carey.*. 

Th^0o\lege was founded on the 4th of Mdy 
180©. After it had flourished f6r almost seven 
yt2m, during wliich period it produced neariy one 
hundred volumes in Orienlal literature;t the 
'Court of Directors resolved on reducing its es- 
tablishmtnt widiin narrower limits on the 1st of 
Januaiy 1807. In consequence of this measure, 
the translatic^ of the Scriptures and some other 
literary works were suspended. 

As this event had been long expected, the Su- 
perinttJndants of the College, who were sensible 
of the importance of restoring Sacred learning to 
the East, had begun, some time before,^ to con- 
sider of the means, by which that benefit might 
yet be secured. Much expense Imd already been 
incurred. Many learned natives hatftionie from 
remdte regions to Calcutta, whose services could 
not be easily replaced; and who never could have 
been assembled, but by the influence of the 

•See ''First Fohp Years ofthe CQllege of Fort-fnlliam- 

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Inlroeitidi(m. 15i 

preme government, as exerted by the Marquis 
WeHesley. The Court of Directors were proba- 
bly not fully aware of the importance of the works 
then carrying on, (although, indeed, their objec- 
tion was not ?p much to the utility, as' to the ex- 
pense of the Institution) and it was believed that 
a time would 6ome, when they would be happy 
to think that these works had not been permitted 
to fell to the ground. It was not, however, their 
causing the expense to cease which was the chief 
source of regret; but that the unity of the under- 
taking was now destroyed. The College of 
Fort- William had been identified with the Church 
of England; and, under that character, I^d ex- 
tended a liberal patronage to all learned men who 
could promote the tranislatidn of the Scriptures. 
But now these translations being no longer sub- 
ject to its revision, its re^onsibility wouU also 
cea^.* m. 

*It will be gratifying to the public to learn that the College 
of Fort- William is now in a flourishing state/- »ncl has received 
the final sanction and patronage of the Easit-India Company, 
It owes much to the cultivated mind and liberal spirit of Lord 
MiSTo, the present Governor- General of India, HiajLordship . 
had not been many months in that country, before he perceive<l 
its importance to the interests of the British Empire in the East; 
and his annual Speeches at the public Disputations, shew that 
he thinks the College of Fort- William deserves as much of his 
attention and support -as any department under his Goverhmeut. 
It will be yet more gratifying to many to hear that the College 
of Fort-William is likely to become once more a fountain of 
Translation for the Sacred Scriptures. Dr." Lev den, Profes* 
.sorof the Hindostanee Language, has come forward (March 
1810) with a proposal to superintend the Translation of the 
Scriptores into seven Languages^ hitherto litUe cultivated in In- 
. This subject will be noticed hereaftei*. 
X was expected that the East India College at Hertford would 

entually supersede the College in Bengal; but it is obvious 
that in x>rder to give any efficiency to the purposes of a College 
lit homey there must be also a College abroad. Little more tlian 



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16 Introdudum. 

Under these circumstances the superintend- 
ants of the College resolved to encourage individ- 
uals to proceed with their versions by such means 
as they could command; artd to trust to the con. 
tributions of the public, and to the future sanction 
of the Government, for the perpetuity of the 
design. They purposed at the satne time, not to 
confine the undertaking to Bengal alone, or to the 
territories of the Company; but to extend it to 
every part of the East, where fit instruments for 
translation could be found. With this view, 
they aided the designs of the Baptist Missionaries 
in Bengal, of the Lutheran Mbsionaries inCoro- 
mandel belonging to *Hhe Society for promoting 
Christian Knowledge,'' and of the other Mission- 
aries in the East connected with Societies in 
England and Sc6tland: and also patronized those 
Roman Catholic Missionaries in the South of 
India w)|om they found qualified for conducting 
useful works. About the same period they ex- 
erted themselves in circulating proposals for the 
translation. <3f the scriptures into the Oriental 

the el^vcnts. of Uie Oriental Languages can be caaremenUy 
learnt in England. But tliU elementary labor at homelis doubt- 
less so much time saved in India. And thus fur the Institution 
at Hertford, independently of its other objects, it highly useiiily 
in subserviency to the College of Fort-William. The two instU 
tutions combine the primary idea of Marquis Wellesley; and the 
expense is not less than that Statesman had originally intended. 
There is this difference in the execution, that there arc now two 
Institutions instead of one. Hi» Lordship proposed that the 
two institutions should be in India, combined in one: and hi« 
reasons were, thtt the organs of speech in youth are more flej^* 
ble at an early age for learning a new language: and that the^ 
constitution of young persons assimilates more easily to a stra 
climate. There are various advantages however in having 
elementary Institution at home which may counterbalance the 
reasons; and if it continue to be conducted with the same spirit' 
and effect which have hitherto distingfuished it, I think that the 
present plan is preferable. 

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Introduction. 17 

Langui^eSi by the Baptist Missionaries in Ben- 
gal» among the Englisn settlements in Asia, and 
in promoting subscriptions for that object by all 
the means in their power; and when it was pro- 
posed to the Gpovernor-Gcneral (Lord Minto, then 
just arrived) to suppress this Mission, a memorial 
was addressed to the Government in its behalf. 

In order to obtain a distinct view of the state of 
Christianity and of Superstition in Asia, the Su* 
perintendants of the College had, before this pe* 
nod, entered into correspondence with intelligent 
persons in different countries; and, from every 
quarter, (even from the confines of China) they 
received encouragement to proceed. But, as 
contradictoiy accounts were given by different 
writers concerning th^ real state pf the numerous 
tribes in India, both of Christians and Natives the 
Author conceived the design of devoting the last 
year or two of his residence in the East, to pur- 
poses of local examination and inquiry. With 
this view, he travelled through the Peninsula of 
India by land, from Calcutta to Cape Comorin, 
a continent extend^g through fourteen degrees 
of latitude, and ^ited Ceylon thrice. And he 
soon rfiscovered that a person may reside all his 
life in Bengal, and yet know almost as little of 
other countries in India, for instance, of Travan- 
core, Ceylon, Goa, or Madura, of their manners, 
customs, habits, and religion, as if he had never 
left England.* The principal objects of this 
tour were to investigate the state of Superstition 

* Of the Books published in Briuin on the discussion relating 
to Missions ftQcLtiie state of India, the most sensible and authen* 
tic are, in general, those written by learned men of the Univer- 
slties who haYC never been in tho East. 

*2 

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18 Introduction. 

at the most eclebrated tempks of the Hindoos; 
to examine tlie Churches and librarka of the 
Romish, Syrian, and Protestant Christies; to 
ascertain the present state and recent history of 
the Eastern Jews; and to discover what persons 
might be fit instruments for the promotion of 
learning in their respective countries, and for 
maintaining a future correspondence on the sub- 
ject of disseminating the Scriptures in India. In 
pursuance of these objects the Author visited 
Cuttack, Ganjam, Visagapatam, Samulcotta, ^- 
jamundry, EUore, Ongole, Nellore, Madpasy 
Mailapoor, Ppndicherry, Cudalore, Tranquebar, 
^ranjore, Tritchinopoly, Aughoor, Madura^ Pa- • 
lamcotta, Ranmad, Jaffna-patam, Columbo, Ma- 
naar, Tutecorin, Aug^go, Quilon, Cochin, Crap- 
ganor, Verapoli, Calicut, Tellicherry, God, and 
other places between Cape Comorin and Bombay; 
the interior of Travancore and the interior of 
Malabar; also seven principul Temples of the 
,Hindoos, viz, Seemachalum in the Telinga coun- 
ty, ChillumbrMm, Seringham, Madura, R^misse- 



After this tour, the AutborTbturnedt||palcut-i## 



i^S 



ram, Elephanta, and Juggeri^t. 
" ■ o^t 

ta, where he remained about three qua^fc-s of a 
year longer: and then visited the Jews and the 
Syrian Christians in Malabar and Travancore a 
second time Ijefore liis return to England. 

Those nations or communities for whom trans- 
lations of the Scriptures have been commenced 
under the patronage or direction already allud|if|i 
to, are the following: the Chinese, the Hindoo^' 
the Cingalese or Ceylonese, the Malays, the Sy« * 
rian Christians, the Romish Cbri^iand, Per- 
sians, the Arabians, and the Jews. Of these it is 
proposed to give some account in their order. 

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19 



Tp: CHINESE. 

In the discussions concerning the promulgation 
of Christianity, some writers have confined their 
vk^vs entirely to India, merely, it is supposed, be- 
cause India is connected^ by political relation 
with Great Britian. India however contains but 
a small part of the nations which seek the Reve- 
lation of God. The Malayan Archipelago in- 
" eludes more territory and a larger population than 
the continent of India. China is a more exten* 
sive field than either; and is, in some respects, 
far moii^ important. The Romish Church has* 
maintained a long and ineffectual contest with 
that empire; because it would never give the 
people, **the good and perfect gift,'/ the Bible 
It further degraded the doctrine of the Cross by 
bl^iding" it with Pagan rites. 

The means of obtaining a version of the Scrip- 
tures in th^ Chinese Fanguage, occupied the minds 
of tlie superintendants of the College of Fort 
William, at an early period. It appeared an ob- 
ject of the utmost importance to procure an eru- 
dite Professor who diould undertake such a work; 
for, if but a single copy of the Scriptures could 
be introduced into* China, they might be trans- 

tl in almost every part of that immense em- 
Another object in view was to introduce 
knowledge of the Chinese Language among 
og^rselves; for although the Chinese Forts on the 
31bet firoiitier overlook the Company's territories 



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20 , Christian Researches 

in Bengal, there was not a person, it was said, irt 
the Company's service in India, who could read 
a common Chinese letter. 

After a long inquiry they succeeded in procur-" 
ing Mr. Joannes Lassar, an .Afmenian Christian, 
a native of China, and a proficient in the Chinese 
Language, who had been employed by the Portu- 
guese at Macao, in conducting their official cor- 
respondence with the Court of Pekin, He wai 
willing to relinquish his commetcial pursuits and , 
to attach himself to the College, for a salary of 
£ASO a year. But as the order for reducing 
tiie establishment of the College was daily expect-, 
ed, this salary could, not be given him. The 
object however was so important, and Mr. Lassar 
appeared to be so well qualified to execute it, 
that they thought fit to retain him at tite above 
stipend in a private character. He entered im- 
mediately on the translation of the Scriptures irfto 
the Chinese Language, and this work he has con- 
tinued to carry on to the present time. But, as. 
bis services might be made otherwise useful, they 
resolved to establish a class of youths undfer his 
tuition; and as they could not obtain the ytnin^ 
civil servants of the Cbmpany for this purpose, 
they proposed to the Baptist Missionaries that 
Mr. Lassar should reside at Serampore which is 
near Calcutta, on the following condition: that 
one of their elder Missionaries, and three at least 
of their youths, should immediately engage in 1 
study of the Chinese Language. Dr. Carey^l 
clined the offer, but Mr. Marshman accepted 
and was joined by two sons of his own, and a 
son of Dr. Carey; and they have prosecuted their 



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respecting the Chinese. Sh 

« 
Sadies with unremitted attention for about five 
years. 

In the year 1807, a copy of the Gospel of St. 
Matthew in the Chinese Language, translated by 
Mr. Lassar, aud hMutifully written by himself^ 
was transmitted t^is Grace the Archbishop of' 
Canteii)ury for the Lambeth Library. ' Since 
that period a considerable portion of the New 
Testament has been printed off from blocks, after 
^ the Chinese manner. * 

The i^roficiency of the Chinese pupils has far 
surpassed the most sanguine hope^ which were 
previously entertained, and has been already pub- 
licly noticed. His Excellency Lord Minto, 
GovemOT«General of India, in his first annual 
Speech to the College of Fort- William, has re- 
corded the following testimony to their progress 
in, the language^ and to the importance of their 
attainments. 

"If I have not passed beyond the legitimate 
|x>unds of this discourse, in ' ranging to thg ex- 
tremity of those countries, and to the furthest 
island of that vast Archipelago in which the Ma- 
lay Language prevails, I shall scarcely seem to 
tran^;ress them, by the short and easy transition 
thence to the language of China. I am, in truth, 
strongly inclined, whether regularly or not, to 
deal one encouraging word to the meritorious, 
and^ I hope, not unsuccessful effort, making, I 
lUfty say, at the door of our College, though npt 
"* litted to its portico, to force that hitherto im- 
fnable fortress, the Chinese Language. Three 
ig men, I ought • indeed to say, boys, have 
only acquired a ready use of tlie Chinese 



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1 



22 Christian Researches 

Language, for the purpose of oral communicatioti 
(which! understand is neither difficult nor rare 
amongst Europeans connected with China) but 
they have achieved, in a degree worthy of admir- 
ation^ that which has been detmed scarcely with- 1 
in the reach of European faculties or industry; 1 1 
mean a very extensive and correct acquaintance 1 
with the written Language of China. *I will not | 
detail the particulars of the Examination which 1 
♦ took place on the tenth of this month (February^ 
. 1808) at Serampore, in tlie Chinese Language, 
the report of which I have read, however, wiA 
great interest, and recommended to the liberal no- 
tice of those whom I have the homir to address* , 
It is enough for my present purpose to say, that 
these young pupils read Chinese books and tnms- 
late itkm; and they write compositions of their i 
- own in the Chinese Language and character. A i 
Chinese Press too is established, and in adbalr ' 
xise. In a word, if, the founders and supporter^ 
of t]iis little College have not yet dispelled, thq^ 
have at least sint and admitted a dawn of d^^ 
through that thick impenetrable cloud; they have 
*]^ssed that Ocearmm dissocktbilemy which for so . 
mahy ages has insulated that vast Empire from 
the rest of mankind.'^ 

*'I must not omit to commend the zealous and 
persevering labors of Mr. La&sar, and of those 
learned and pious persons associated with him, 
who have accomplished, for the future benefit, we 
may hope, of that immense and populous re^on, 
Chinese Versions in the Chinese Character, 
of the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke, 
throwing open that precious mine, with all its re^ 



« 



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• * respecting ihe Chinese. 23 > 

ligioiis and moral treasure to the largest associa- 
ted population in the*worlcL"* 

When this Chm^i^ Class was first established, 
it was directed that there should be regular pub* 
lie Examinations and Disputations, as at the CoU 
lege of Fort- William. The Examination in Sep- 
itpmber 1808, (a few months after the above ^ 
Speech of Lord Minto was pronounced) was held 
in the presence'^ of J. H. Harington, dsq. Vice- 
President of the Asiatic Society, Dr. John Ley- 
den, and other Oriental scholars; when the three 
youths, mentioned above, maintained a Disputa- 
tioQ in the Chinese Language. On this occasion, 
the Respondent defended the following position: 
**To commit to memory the Chinese Classics b 
' the best mode of acquiring the Chinese Lan* 

One most valuable e&ct of these measures is 
a.|{ork just published by Mr. Joshua Marshman, 
fjfe elder pupil of Mr. Lassar. It is the first 
vdume of "the Works of Confucius, containin||( 
the Original Text, with a translation; to which 
is prefixed, a Dissertation on the Chinese Lan- 
guage, pp. 877, 4to;" to be followed by four vol- 
umes more. This translation will be received 
with gratitude by the learned, and will be consid- 
ered as a singular monument of the indefatigable 
' labor of an English Missionary in the acquisition 
of ^ aew language. ^ 

* While, treajting of the cultivation of the Chinese 
Language, it will be proper tb notice the endeav- 
ors of Uie London MissicHiary Society in the 

*Sce College Report for tU^ , 
t 

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^ Christian Reaearches • 

same department. While Mn Lassar and Mr% 
Marshman are translating tHe Scriptures at Cal- 
eutta, Mr. Morrison is prosecuting a similar 
work at Canton in China, witb the aid of able na- 
tive scholars. It is stated in the Report of their 
Society, that the principal difficulties have been 
surmounted, and that the period of his acquiring 
» a complete knowledge of the language is by no 
means so distant as what he once expected. "It 
has proved of great advantage to him that he 
copied and carried out with him the Chinese 
translation of the Gospels pre^rved in the British 
Museum, which he now finds from his own in- 
creasing acquaintance with the language, and the 
opinion of the Chinese assistants, to be exceed- 
ingly valuable, and which must, from the excel- 
lency of the style, have been produced by Chinese 
natives.'* He adds, that the manuscript of the 
New Testament is fit to be printed; and that he 
proposes to pu]t}lish also a Dictionary and a Gram-^ 
mar of the language, the last of which is alreadjF] 
prepared for the press,"* The expense to th< 
London Missionary Society for the current year, 
in the Chinese department alone, is stated to be 
6^,500. 

The foregoing notices of the progress of Chi- 
nese literature will, I doubt not, be acceptable to 
many; for the cultivation of the Chinese language, 
coi\sidered merely in a political point of view, 
must prove of the utmost advantage to this couii- 
tiy, in her further transactions with that ancient 
and ingenious, butfealous, incommunicative, aodi 
partially civilized nation. 

^Report «(|^aildon Mitsumary Society for 1810, p. 2!^. 
f 

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respecting the Hindoos^ 25 



THE HINDOOS. 

It is admitted by all writers that the civilization 
of the Hindoos wiH be promoted by intercourse 
with the English. But this only applies to that 
small portion of the natives, who live in the vicin- , 
ity of Europeans, and mix with them. Ab for 
the bulk of the population, they scareiely ever see 
an Englishman. It becomes then of importance 
**to ascertain what have been the actual effects of 
Christianity in those interior provinces of Hip- 
dostan, where it has been introduced bv the Chris- 
tian Missionaries;*' and to compare them wiih 
such of their countrymen as remain in their pris- 
tine idolatry. It was a chief object of the Au- 
dior's tour through India, to mark the relative 
influence of Paganism and Christianity. In or- 
der then that the English nation may be able to 
form a judgn>ent on tnis subject, he will proceed 
to give some account of the Hindoos of Jugger- 
naut^ and of the native Christians in Tanjore. 
The Hindoos of Juggernaut have as yet had no 
advantages of Christian instruction: and continue 
to worship the Idol called Juggernaut. The na- 
tive Christians of Tanjore, until the light of Rev- 
elation visited them, worshipped an idol also, call- 
ed the great Black Bull of Tanjore* And, as 
in this brief work the Author proposes to state 
merely what he himself has seen, with little com- 
ment or observation, it will suffice to give a few 
extracts from the Journal of his Tour through 
these Provinces. 
3 

• ^ * Digitized by VjOOQIC 



26 Christian Researches 

EXTRACTS FROM THE AUTHOR'S JOURNAL 

^ IN HI» 

Tour to the Temple of Juggernaut in Orissa, 
in the year 1806. 

^'Buddruck in Orissa, May 30th, 1806. 
We know that we are approaching Juggernaut 
(and yet we are more than fifty miles from it) 
by the human bones which Wje have seen for 
some days strewed by the way. At this place 
we have been joined by several large bodies of 
pilgrims, perhaps 2000 in numbef, who have 
come from various parts of Northern India. Some 
of them, with whom I have conversed, say that 
they have been two months on their march, trav- 
elling slowly in the hottest season of the year» 
with their wives and children. Some old persons 
are among them who wish to die at Juggernaut. 
Numbers of pilgrims die on the road; and their 
bodies generally remain unburied. On a ^ain 
by the river, near the pilgrim's Caravansera at 
this place, there are more than a hundred skulls. 
The dogs, jackals, and vultures, seem to live here 
on human prey. The vultures exhibit a shock- 
ing tameness. The obscene animals will npt 
leave the body sometimes till we come close to 
them This Buddruck is a horrid place. Wher- 
ever I turn my eyes, I meet dbath in some shape 
or other. Surely Juggernaut cannot be wcmtSc 
than Buddruck." 

"/n sight qfJupgemaut; \2th June^ 
— Many th^sands of pilgrims have accompa- 
\ us for some.days past. Tliey _cover the road 
>re and l^ehind^ as far as the eye can reach. 

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respecting the Hindoos. 9JI 

At.nine o'clock Uiis morning, the temple of Jug^ 
geniaut appeare* in view at a great distance* 
When the multitude first saw it, they gave a 
shout, and fell to the ground and worshipped. I 
have heard nothing to-day but shouts and accla- 
mations by the successive bodies of pilgrims* 
From the place where I now stand I have a view 
of a host of people like an army, encamped at the^ 
outer gate of the town of Juggernaut; where a 
guard of soldiers is posted to prevent their enter- 
ing the town, until they have paid the Pilgrim's 
Tay. I passed a devotee to-day who laid himself 
down at every^step, measuring the road to Jug- 
gernaut, by the length qf^ /Us body^ as a penance 
of merit to please the god.'* 

^^ Outer Oate of Juggernaut: 12th June. 
A disaster has just occurred. As I approach- 
ed the gate, the pilgrims crowded from all quarters 
around me, and shouted, as they usually did when 
I passed them on the road, an expression of wel- 
come and respect. I was a little alarmed at their 
number, and look^ round for my guard. A guard 
of soldiers had accompanied me from Cuttack, the 
last military station; but they were now about a 
quarter of a mile behind, with my servants and the 
baggage. The pilgrims cried out that they were 
entitled to some indulgence, that they were poor, 
that they could not pay the tax; but I was not 
aware of their design. At this moment, when I 
was. within a few yards of the gate, an old Sanyas- 
see Tor holy man) who had travelled some days 
by the side of my horse^came -up and said, *'Sir, 
you are in danger; the people ar§.going to rush 
through the gate when it is opened for you." I 

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J2^ Ofiristian Researches^ ^ 

immediately dismounted, and wdeavored to cs^ 
ftape to one side; but it was too late. The mob 
was now in motion, and with a tumultuous shout 
pressed violently towards the gate. ,The guard 
M itliin seeing my danger opened it, and the mul- 
titud;t^ rushing through, carried me forward In the 
torrent a considerable space; so that I was liter- 
ally borne into Juggernaut by the Hindoos them- 
selves. A distressing scene followed. As the 
number and strength of the mob increased^ the 
narrow way was choked up by the mass of peo . 
:)le; 'and J apprehended that many of them Would 
lave been suffocated, or bruised to death. -My* 
lorse was yet among them. But suddenly one 
of the side posts of ^e gate, which was of wood, 
gave way and fell to the ground. And perhaps 
this circumstance alone prevented the loss of 
lives. Notice of the event was immediately 
communicated to Mr. Hunter, the sujperintend- 
ant. of the temple, who repaired to the spot, and, 
sent an additional guard to the inner gate, 
lest the people should force tljat also^ for. 
there is an outer ^nd an inner gate to the town 
of Juggernaut; but both of them are slightly con- • 
structed, Mr. Hunter told me that similar acci- 
dents sometimes occur, and that many have been 
crushed to deatli by the pressure of the mob.^ 
He added, that sometimes a body of pilgrims 
(consisting chiefly of women and children and 
old men) trusting to the physical weight of their 
mass, will make, what he called, a charge on the 
armed guards, and overwhelm them; the guards 
riot being willing in such circumstances, to op- 
pose their bayonets.'* 



dbyGoogk 



rpegeding ffte I^ndow. 2£f 

« 

-^ — I have seen Juggernaut. The scene at Bud* 
druck is but the vestibule to Juggernaut. No 
record of ancient or modem history can give, I 
think» an adequate idea of this Valley of Death; it 
may be truly compared with the "Valley of Hin- 
nom." The idol called Juggernaut, has been 
considered as the Moloch of the present age; and 
he is justly so named, for the sacrifices offered up 
to him by self-devotement, are not less criminal^ 
perhaps^not less numerous, than those recorded 
of the Moloch of Canaan. Two other idols ac- 
company Juggernaut, namely, Boloram and Shu- ' 
budra his brother and sister; for there are three 
Deities worshipped here. They receive equal 
adoration and sit on thrones of nearly equal 
height. 

" This morning I viewed the Temple; a 

stupendous fabric, and truly commensurate with 
the extensive sway \of "the horrid king." As 
other temples are usually adorned with figures 
emblematical of their religion; so Juggernaut ha^ 
representations (numerous and various) of that 
vice, which constitutes the essence of his wor- 
ship. The walls and gates are covered with in- 
decent emblems, in massive and durable sculpturCr 
I have also visited the sand plains by the sea, in 
some places whitened with the bones of the pil- 
grims; and another place a litde way out of the 
town, called by the English, the Golgotha, where 
the dead bodies are usually cast forth; and where 
dogs and vultures are ever seen.* 

♦The vultures generally find outUie jirey first: lind begin witb 
the internes; for the flesh of the body is too 6rm for their b^a^ 

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30 Christian Resemxhe^ 

"The grand Hindoo festival of the Rutt Jattfa, 
takes place on the 18th inst. when the idol is to 
be brought forth to the jleople. I reside during 
my May herfe at the house of James Khinter, Esq. 
the Company*js collector of the tax x>n Pilgrims,^ 
and superintendant of the temple, formerly a stu- 
dent in the College of Fort-William; by whom I 
am hospitably entertained,and also by Capt. Patton 
and Lieut. Woodcock, commanding the military 
force. Mr. Hunter distinguished himself at the 
College by hisf proficiency in the Or ienfal Lan- 
guages. He is a gentleman of polished manners, 
and of classical taste. The agreeable society of 
these genllemen is very refreshing to my spirits 
in the midst of the present scenes. I was sur- 
prised to see how little they seemed to be moved 
by the scenes of Juggernaut. They said they 
were now so accustomed to them, they thought 
little of them. They had almost forgot their first 
impressions. Their houses are on the seashore, 
about a mile or more from the temple. They can- 
not live nearer, on account of the offensive effluvia 
of the town. For independently of the enormity of 
the superstition, there are other circunastances 
which render Juggernaut noisome in an extrem^ 
degree. The senses are assailed by the squalid and 
ghastly appearance of the famished pilgrims; ma- 

immedlately after death. But the dogs soon receive notice of 
the circumstance, generally from seeing the Hurries or corpse- 
carriers returning from the place. On the approach of the dogs, 
the vultures netire a few yards, and wait till the hody be siim* 
eiently torn for easy deglutition. The vidtures and dogs often, 
feed, together, and sometimes begin their attack before the. pil- 
grim be quite dead. There are four animals which are some* 
limes seen about a carcass, the dog, the jackal, the vulture, and 
the Hargeda, or AdjutanJ^ caUfd by P^nnant^ the Gigaatic 
grane. 



dbyGoogk 



respecting the Hindoos. 3i 

ny of whom die in the streets of want or of disease; 
while the devotees with clotted hair and painted 
flesh are seen practising their various austerities, 
and modes of self-torture. Persons of both sexes, 
with little regard to concealment, sit down on 
the sands close to the town, in public view; and 
the SACRED BULLS Walk about among them and 
eat the ordure.^ 

**The vicinity of Juggernaut to the sea proba- 
bly prevents the contagion, which otherwise 
would be produced by the putrefactions of the 
place. There is scarcely any verdure to refresh 
the sight near Juggernaut; the temple and town 
being nearly encompassed by hills ofsand, which 
has been cast up in the lapse of ages by the surge 
of the ocean. All is barren and desolate to the 
eye; and in the ear there is the never intermitting 
sound of the roaring sea." 

**Juggernaut^ I8th of June. 

pI have, returned home from witnessing a 

scene which I shall never forget. At twelve 
o'clock of this day, being the great day of the 
feast, the Moloch of Hindoostan was brought out 
of his temple amidst the acclamations of hun^ 
dreds of thousands of his worshippers. When 
the idol was placed on his throne, a shout was 
raised, by the multitude, such as I had never 
heard before. It continued equable for a few min- 
utes, and then gradually died away. After a short 
interval of silence, a murmur was heard at a dis- 

*Thi9 singular fuct was pointed oqt to me by the g^ntlemei^ 
here. There is no vegetation for the Saored Bulls on the sand 
Trains. They ai^e fed generally wiUi TegttaUes from tke 
handa of t)ie pilgrims* 

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S& Chrisfim Besearchea 

taijce; all eyes were turned towards the places 
and, behold a grave advancing! A body of men 
having green branches,, or palms in their hands^^ 
approached with great celerity. The people 
opened a way for them; and when they had come 
up to tlie throne, they fell down before him that 
sat thereon, and worshipped. And the multitude 
again sent forth a voice ^4ike tlie sound of a great 
thunder." But the voices I now heard, were not- 
those of melody or of joyful acclamation; for 
there is no harmony in the praise of Moloch's 
worshippers. Their number indeed brought to 
my mind the countless multitude of the Revela- 
tions; but their voices gave no tuneful Hosannah 
or Hallelujah; but rather a yell of approbation, 
united v^ith a kind of hissing applause.* I was 
at a loss how to account for this latter noise, un- 
til I was directed to notice the women; who 
emitted a sound like that of whist&ngy with thd 
lips circular, and the tongue vibrating: as if a 
serpent would speal; by their organs, utterinfe 
human sounds. 

"The throne of the idol was placed on a stu- 
pendous car or tower about sixty feet in height, 
resting on wheels which indented the ground 
deeply, as they turned slowly under the ponder, 
ous machine. Attached to it were six cables, of the 
size and length of a ship's cable, by which the 
people drew it along. Upon the tower were the 
priests and satellites of the idol, surrounding his 
throne. The idol is a block of wood, having a 
frightful visage painted black, with a distended 
mouth of a bloody color. His arms are of gold^ 

^SteJ^tsnU FandetMniumf Book Xm.- 
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respecting the Hindoos. *3S 

Land he is dressed in gorgeous apparel. The 
other two idols are of a white and yellow color. 
Five elephants preceded the three towers, bearing 
towering flags, dressed in crimson caparisons, and 
Imving bells hanging to their caparisons, which 
sounded musically as they moved. 

*^*I went on in the procession, close by the 
tower of Moloch; which, as it was drawn with 
difficulty, grated on its many wheels harsh thun- 
der.* After a few minutes it stopped; and no\^ 
the worship of the god began. A high priest 
mounted the car in front of the idol, and pro- 
nounced his obscene stanzas in the eairs. of the 
people; who responded at intervals in the same 
strain. **These songs,'^ said he, *^are the delight 
of the god. His car can only move when he is 
pleased with the song." The car moved on a 
little way arid then stopped* A boy of about 
twelve years was then brought forth to attempt 
something yet more lascivious, if peradventure 
the god would move. The "child perfected the 
praise" of his idol with such ardent expression 
and gesture, that the god was pleased, and the 

' •TwQof themUitary genUeman had mounted my elephant that 
they might witness the spectacle, and bad broagbl him close to the 
tower; but the moment it began to move, the animal, alarmed at 
the unusual noise, took fright and ran offthrough the crowd till 
he was stopped by a wall. The natural fear pf the elephant lest 
he should imure human life,- was remarkably exemplified on thia 
occasion, Thdugh the crowd was very closely set, he endeavor- 
ed, in the midst of his own terror, to throw the peopHj off on 
both sides with his feet, and it was found that he had only trod 
upon one person. It was with great concern I afterwards learnt 
that this w%s a poor woman, and that the fleshy part of her leg 
had been torn off. There being no medical person here, Lieut* 
Woodcock with £^at humanity endeavored to dress the woutid 
and attended her daily; and ^r. Hunter ordered her to be sup- 
plied with every Uiing that thight conduce to her recovery. 

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$i Chrisiian Besearches 

multitude emitting a sensual yell of delight, urged 
the car along. After a few minutes it stopped again. 
An aged minister of the idol then stood up, and 
With a long rod in his hand, which he moved with 
indecent action, completed the variety of this dis- 
gusting exWbition, I felt a consciousness of doing 
wrong in witnessing it. I was also somewhat 
appalled at the magnitude and horror of the spec- 
taclej I felt like a guilty person on whom all eyes 
were fixed, and I was about to withdraw. But 
a scene of a different kind was now to be present- 
ed. The characteristics of Moloch's worship are 
obscenity and blood. We have seen the formen^ 
Now coities the blood. ^ 

**After the tower had proceeded some way, a. 
pilgrim announced that he was ready to offer him* 
self a sacrifice to the idol. He laid himself do wa 
in the road before the tower as it was moving 
along, lying on his face, with his arms stretched 
forwards. The multitude passed round hira, 
leaving the space clear, and he was crushed to 
death by the wheels of the tower. A shout of 
joy was raisej to the gcid. He is said to smi/e 
when the libation of the blood is made. The 
people threw cowries, or small money, on the 
bocfy. of the victim, in approbation of the deedi 
He was left to view a considerable time, and Wad 
then carried by the Hurries to the Golgotha^ 
where I have just been viewing his remains^ 
How much I wished that the Proprietors of India 
Stock could have attended the wheels of Jugger- 
naut, and seen this peculiar source of their rev- 



dbyGoogk 



respecting ihe Hiiidoos. 33 

^"^ Juggernaut y 20th Jwie. 

"Moloch, hof rid king, besmeared with blood 

••Of human sacrifice, and parents' tears.** * Milton, 

" -The horrid solemnities still continue. 

Yesterday a woman devoted herself to the idoU 
She laid herself down on the road in an oblique 
direction/ so that the wheel did not kill her in- 
stantaneously, as is generally the case; but she 
died in a few hours. This morning as I passed 
the Phice of Skulls, nothing remained of her but 
her bones. 

"And this, thought I, is the worship of the 
Brahmins of Hindoostan! And their worship in 
its sublimes! degree! What then shall we tliink 
of their private manners, and their moral princi- 
ples! For it is equally true of India as of Europe. 
If you would know the state of the people, look at 
die state (^ the temple. 

"I was surprised to see the Brahmins with 
Uleir heads uncovered in the' open plain, falling 
down in the midst of the Sooders before "the hor- 
rid shape/' and mingling so complacently with 
**that polluted cast.'' B.ut this proved what I bad 
before heard, that so great a god is this, that the 
dignity of high cast disappears before him. This 
great king recognizes no distinction of rank 
among his subjects. AH men are equal in his 
I presence." 

^^Juggem^ut^ ilst June. 

The idolatrous processions continue for some 

daj s longer, but my spirits are so exhausted by 

the constant view of these enormities, that I mean 

to hasttu away from this place sooner than I at 



dbyGoogk 



so . Christian Researches 

first intended. I beheld another distressing scene 
this morning at the Place of Skulls; a poor wo- 
man lying dead, or nearly dead, and her two 
children by her, looking at the dogs and vulturesi 
which wei;e near. The people passed by with- 
out noticing the children. 1 asked them where 
was their home. They said, "they had no home 
but where their mother was." O, there /is no 
pity at Juggernaut! no mercy, no tenderness of 
heart in Moloch's kingdom! Those who support 
^his kingdom, err, Ltrust, from ignorance, *'They 
know not what they do.'* 

"As to the number of worshippers assembled 
here at this time, no accurate calculation can be 
made. The natives themselves, when speaking 
of numbers at particular festivals, usually say that 
a lack of people (100,000) would not be missed. 
I asked a Brahmin how many he supposed were 
present at the most numerous festival he had ever 
witnessed. "Hpw can I tell," said he, "how 
many grains there are in a hai\dful of san^?" - 

"The languages -spoken here a^^e various, as 
tliere are Hindoos from every country in India: 
but the two chief languages in use by those who 
are resident, are the Orissa and the Telinga. 
Tlie border of the Telinga Country is only a few 
miles distant from the Tower of Juggernaut." > 

^^Chilka Lakdy 24ith June. 

-^1 felt my mind relieved and happy when I 

Jiad passed^ beyond the confines of Juggernaut. 
I certainly was not prepared for the scene. But no 
one can know what it is who- has not seen it. 
Frpmaa eminence* on the pleasant banks of the 

^Manickpatam. 

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respeding the Hindoos. 37 

Chilka Lake (where no human tones are seen,) 
I had a vi^ oiFthe loft^ tower ofJuggemaut far» 
remot^; and while I viewed it, its abominations 
came to mind. It was on the morfting of the 
Sabbath. Ruminating long on the wide and ex- 
tended empire of Moloch in the heathen world, I 
cherished in mjr thoughts the design of some 
"Christian Institution," which being fostered by- 
Britain, my Christian country, might gradually 
undermine this baleful idolatry, and put out the 
memory of it for even" 



Annual Expenses of the Idol JvccERJifAUTf pre^ 
sented to the Engfish Government. 

[Exttftct^ froin thto -Official Accounts.] 

Kupees. (iteriingv, 
1. Expenses aUending the taUe of tbe tdol • 36»115 or 4,5)4 
%, Ditto of his dress or wearing ap{>arel - « 2*712 339 

3. DiUo of the wages of his servants ... 10,057 1,259 

4. Ditto of contingent expenses at the different 

seasons of pilgrimage - - - -^. - 10,989 1,373 

5. Ditto of his elephants and horses ... 3,030 37B 
6; Ditto of his rutt or annual state cafriage • 6,713 it39 

Rupees 69,6X6 /. 8,702 

"III item third, "AV^ages oftihis servaints,''* are 
included the wages of the Courtezans^ who are 
kept for the service of the temple. 

**Item sixth. What is here called in the offi- 
cial acciount "the state*. carriage," is the same as ^ 
the car or tower. Mr. Hunter informed me that 
the three * State carriages^ were decorated this 
year (in June 1806) with upwards of /. 200 st^rW 
mg worth of English broadcloth ^md baize. 

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38 Christian Researches 

' ' ' "^ 

*'Of the rites celebrated ii the interior erf Jug- 
gernaut caiied the Dailj/ Service^ I can say noth» 
ing of my own knowledge, not having been .with- 
in the Temple./'* 



JUGGERNAUT IN BENGAL. 

Lest it should be supposed that the rites of 
Juggernaut are confined to the Temple in Oris-' 
sa^ or that the Hindoos Ihere practise a more 

l^The Temple of Juggernaut is under tlie immediate control of 
the English OovemfSienti who levy a tax on pilgrims as a source . 
of revenue. See ** A Regulation (by the Bengal Government)- 
for levying a Tax fronif'ilgrims resorting to the Temple of Jug- 
gernaut, and ibr the Superintendahce and Management of the 
Temple. Passed April 3, 1806 » , 

The province of Orissa first became subject to the British Em« 
pire under the administration of the Marquis Wellesley, who per- . 
mitted the pilgrims at first to visit Jugfgernaut without pa/mg 
tribute. It was proposed to his Lordship, «oon af^er, to f»as8 the 
above'Hegulation for tl>e management of the Temple, and levying 
the taxt but he did not approve of it, and actually left the Gov- 
ernment without giving his sanction to the opprobrious law. 
When -the measure was discussed by the succeeding Govern- 
ment, it w^as resisted by George Udny. Esq. one of the Members 
of the Supreme Council, who recorded his solemn dissent on the 
proceedings of Go\'ernment, for transmission to England. The 
other members considered Juggernaut to be a legitimate source 
of revenue, on the principle, 1 believe, that money fi'om other 
temples 'in Hindostan had long been brought into the treasury. 
It is just that 1 should stkte that these gentlemen (thougii their 
opimon oi^.this subject will dMfer so much from that of their coun- 
^ trymeh at home) are mep of the most honorable principles and of 
' unimpeached integrity. Nor would any one 'of them, 1 believe 
(for I liave the honor to knaw them) do any thing whicli he 
thought injurious to the honor or religion of his country. But 
the truth is this, that those persons who go to India in early 
youth, and vritness the Hindoo customs all tlieir life, seeing little 
at fhe same time of^tlie Christian Religion to counteract the ef- 
fect, are disposed to view ihem with complacency, and are some- 
times in danger of at length considering them even as proper or 
necessary.. ,« . "/.;.. 



dbyGoogk 



r Reeling the Hindoos. 39 

criminal superstition than they do ip other places, 
it may be proper to notice the effects of the same 
idolatry in Bengal. The English nation will not 
expect to hear that the blood of Juggernaut is 
known at Calcutta: but, alas! it is shed at the very 
doors of the English, almost under the eye of the 
Supreme Oovernment. Moloch has many a tower 
iiT the province of Bengal, that fair and fertile 
proviilce which has been called **^The Garden of 
Nations.'* Close to Jphera, a beautiful villa on 
the river's side, about eight niiles from Calcutta^ 
once the residence of Governor HastTngs, and 
within view of the pesent Governor- General's , 
country-house, there is a temple of this idei 
which is often stained with human bloed. At 
the festival of the Rutt Jattira in May 1807, the 
Author visited it, on his return from the South 
of India^^avihg heard that its rites were similar 
to those of Juggernaut. 

^'Juggernaut's Temple, near Ishera^ on the 
Ganges: 

'' But t Jattra, May, 1807. 
"llie tower here is drawn along, like that at 
Juggernaut, by cables. The number of wor- 
shippers at this festival is computed to be about 
a hundred thousand. The tower is covered with 
indecent emblems, which were freshly painted'' 
for the occasion, and were the objects of sensual 
^aze by botH sexes. One of the victims of this 
year was a well made young man, of healthy ap- 
pearance and comely aspect. He had a garland 
of flowers round hb neck, and his long black hair 
was dishevelled. He danced for awhile before 

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,40 Ghrisiian Rmearch^^ 

^e idol, singing in an enthusiastic strain, aqcl 
ihen rushing suddenly to the wheels, he shed^ 
his blood under the tower of obscenity. I was 
not at the spot at the time, my attention having 
been engaged by a more pleasing scene. 

"On the other side, on a rising groqnd )j?y the 
' side of a Tank, stood the Christian Missionaries, 
and around them a crowd of people listening to 
theirjjreaching. The town of Serampore, where 
the Protestant Missionaries reside, is only about 
a mile and a half from this Temple of Jugger- 
nSut. As I passed through the multitude, I met, 
several persons haying the printed papers of ihp 
Missionaries in their hands. Some of them were 
reading^hem very gravely; others were laughiqg 
wit^ each other at the contents, and spying, 
**\Vhat do theSe words mean?" 

**I sat down on an elevated spot tb contenv- 
plate this scene; the tower of blood and ijqfip^rity 
on the one hand, and the Christian Preachers on 
the other. I thought on the commandment of 
our Savior, "Go ye, teach alljiiations." I said 
to myself, "How great and glorious a ministry 
are these humble persons now exercising in the 
presence of God!" How is it aj^lauded by the 
holy Angels, who "havie joy in heaven over (Mie 
sinner that repenteth;" and how far does it trans- 
cend the work of the Warrior pr Statesman, vpi 
charity, utility, and lasting fame? And I could 
not help wishing that the Representatives of the 
Church of Christ in my own country had been 
j^esent to witness this scene, that they might 
have seen bow practicable it is to offer Christian 
instruction to our Hindoo subjects." . \ 



^byGoogk 



f^spedUng ihe Hindd08. 41 

- IMMOLATION OF FEMALES- , 

Before the Author proceeds to shew the 
happy effects of Christianity in those provinces 
of India where it has been introduced, it may b^ 
proper to notice in this place that other sanguin* 
ary rite of the Hindoo superstition, the Female 
Sacrifice. . Tlie report of the number of wo- 
men burned within the period of six months near 
Cafteatta, will give the reader some idea of the 
multitude who perish annually in India. 

•^REPORT of the Number of Women who 

. were Burned Alive on the Funeral Pile of their 

Husbands, within thirty miles round Cateutta,' 

from the beginning of Bysakh (15th April) to 

. - the end of Aswin (15th October) 1804/» 

Women burned ' 
/ alive. 

From Gurria to Barry pore;, at eleven 

different places* 18 

From Tolly's Nullah mouth to Gurria; 

dt seventeen xiifferent places 36 

From Barrypore to Buhipore; at sev«i . 
' places IJL 

From Seebpore to Balleea; at five places 10 
Ffoin Balee ijo Bydyabattee; at three 

places ' 3^^ 

From Bydyabattee to Bassbareea; at ftrc 

places 10 , 

^ .' . Carried over 88 'y^- 

*See the natnes of the placet ami other particuUrs in Memoir' 
•f 4he £3itpedkn<y of, an Mccfetiattical MttabUthmctU in BriHth'^ 
Mdid. 

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42 arf#^>A^^ 

From Calcutta to Burahnugur (or Bar« 

i^lgore;) at four plwes ;^ , 

From Burahnugur to ChaiwA (qr Bat- , 

rackpore;) at six pl^ea . 13^,^* 

From Chanofc to Kachraparej^ ^t four 

places . ^ 8 

Total of women burned alive in Tsix 
TOontb^, near Calcutta UIS > 

"The above Report was made by persons of 
the Hindoo qist, deputed for that purppe^ und&t 
the superirrtendanc^ of the Prof^a9r cdf the SJ^n^ 
serit and Bengalee language^ m ih^ Jpollegc of 
Fort- William. iThey were ten in number, and 
were stationed at diflferent places during the per- 
iod oJF six months* They gave in their account 
monthly, specifying the particulars of each im* 
molation^ so that every individual instand^^e w^ 
sul^fct to investigation immediately aft^itt&iOC^ 
currence, ^ . v . , uicn'^I 

"By an account t^ken in 1803, thei^un^e^ijof 
women s^icrificedy during tliat year, wiihin \hin% 
miljes round Calcutta, was two hundred and $^y- 
enty^ve, , ./ 

"in the foregoing Report of ^^k fl^ieptlpy?^^^ ill 
1804, it 'will be perceived that no account was 
taken of burnings in a $^i§t t^q^ ; thg WQ^Jt qC 
Calcutta, nor further than twenty miles m ^Ome 
othjjr directions; so that the whote number of 
burnings within tWrty miles round Calcutta 
must have been consideiably greater than is 
here stated*'^ 



d by Google . 



Tbe fioj^Q^Qg Bpc9tti>t wiH give the reader 
sol^e j^^ of t^ ftigi^oM circumsti^ices which 
^ sometimes attend these sacrifices* 

SACRIFICE OF THE KOOLIN BRAH^ 
. MIN^S THREE WIVES. 

''Cafcutta, 30th Sept. 1807. 
^'A horrid tragedy w^.acted/on the 12th in* 
stant, near Banu^]?e- (a plaqe about three mUea 
above Calcutta*) A KqoUn Brahmin of Cam* 
mar4iattie, by nan^ Kxist^ Deb Mookerjee, died 
at the advanced age oC mnety-two. He had 
twelve wive^;* ijin^ three of titem were burned 
aUve with his de^ body. Of these three, one 
was a vcneiiable i^dy, haying white ^ocks, who 
had b^n. kn^g l^npwn ip the neighborhood. Not 
bduig aUe to walk, she lyas carried in a palan* 
quia to t^place-ctf burning; md was then placed 
by the Brahqfiins on. tbe funeral; pile* The twq 
oihqr>ladies were younger; one, of thom ot a yefy 
pleasing ;^^} inlfnrestfng cqi^ ntepance* The cd4 
k^ was placed od^ g^)q j^de.c>f;the dead4uisband^ 
aoditbe two otb^^r wives laid theAiselves do^iji oa 
■ ,t ^ • ^ . _^\ 

^l^e Koofin Brahmjn is the purest of all Brahmins, and is pri* 
▼ifegird to marry as many wires as he plea'ses. The Hindoo fam- 
ilial accaount k.to' honor, to iwfitfifthittrdiugbtens witKf K^oUiv 
Br^iplD. ."The GhfW^^^^^T Hegi^^W*<rfMi« J^^lin cfts^ slat^ 
that Rajeb ^dni^erje^; ildW of Calcutta^ h\i fbrty wives; and Ihftt^ 
Rjj thimA&t BottneljMy lAso ^fCttlciitta, has l(^y .two wives, und. 
iutei^if tQ mif ry^more: ^at lUmrajaBonQerke, of Bicramporef 
aged thirty yeacs, and Poorah Bonntrjee,Hai-ki89ore Chutterjee^ 
s^ Roopram MoolseTJee> hare etteh upwtfpds of forty wives, an^ 
intei^d Xd many vt^ami thi^ Bprjoo liao^erji^, -^f ^icr»iiip<^*i»r 
who died abo^e five years, fo, h|id ninety wives. '^ This account, 
was autfaentieated at Cidcima in the year ISMr. 8e« further p^ 
tkuUra in ** ilfmiM'>feefi»K qpi0ttd* "^ ' 



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the other ^ide; an^theA^tobld BraWttis] MlsXd- 
est son of the deceased; applied his'^wcbfo'tfic 
pHe, with unaverted face. The pile- diidddhl^^ 
blazed, for it was covered with combustibies; 

r and this human sacrifice w^s^cotnpleted ^i)Pti&t 
the din of drams and cymbafe, «hd tbe shouts of 
Brahmins. A person present observed ^Surely 
if Lord Minto were here, wHp is just con\e from 
England, and is not used to see w(>men borhW 
aUve, he would have saved the$e ihree ladiai«* 
The Mahomedan Governors satved whom they 
pleased, and suffered no deluded female- td cchm 
mit suicidej without previous investigiation o^ the 
circumstances, and* official permiss^ion.' ^'^-^- 
"In a discussion which this event ^ has ptc^ 
duced in Calcutta^ flie ' following questfoii bas[ 
been asked, Who was guilty of ri^ b^loo©' 

-OF THE oLp LADY? for it was mahifcist that §he 
could not destroy herself? She was cafH^ to be 
bumed."^ It was also alleged that the Brahmk) 
yrho fired the pile #as not guilty^ because he 
wa^ never mformed by the English Gqveiftimetit^. 
tliat there was any iiWrnorality^ in the action. On 
the contt*ary,' he irti^k ai-gue that the^ Engli$b; 
ivitnessing this scene daily, as they dp, withqyt 
remonstrance, acquiesced in its prppj^;^^^ ; 'ij^ig. 
Government iii India was exGulpated,^^on tibw, 
grdijnd th^ the Qovtmment at hothe never j?ep](. 
any instrucuohs on .the subject;. suhI the Court ^ 
Directors were exculpated, because they woeg 
the agents of others. It remained tiiat the-jprot 
prietors of India Stock, who originate a^dL s&Qer 
tion all proceedings of the Court of Director3, 
were remotely accessary to the deed/* 



dbyGoogk 



Tbe best vU^^icationi of )the gfcat body of Vrq^ 
^tors, is this, that some of ihctfi never heai^ 
f the Female Sacrifice at all; and that few of 
3)em ai^ ac(|\iainted w^th*the fuU extent and £re- 
jijuency of tne crimen Be^des, in the above; di?- 
.cussion, it was. taken for granted th^ the Court 
of Directors have doi^e notliing towards the sup- 
pression pf this enormity; and that the C9urt-^f 
Proprietors . have looked on, without conceni ^t 
this oinis^qn^ of duty* But this, perhaps, may 
not be the case. The question then ren[iains to 
be asked. Have the Court; of Directors ;at any 
time sent instructions to their G^ven^ipjsnt in 
India, taxejport on the means by Which the fee- 
qijency of the i^bia^ li^riSpe nught ife cStiiin- » 
ished^ and thje practice itsfH 0ventually;aboUsbe{l? 
Or bipuie the JPrcprietors of India Stoek at miy 
time instructed tfie Court of Dirfefors to, attend 
to^a paint ofsorjfmch consequence to the charader 
^jhe (jompunyiand ^ fy^mar of the nation? 

That the alxditipn js practicable has been -df^ 
monstrated: ?md that too by the ^pst ratic^^ 
and leitient measures; and these means ^av^ bqen 
pointed out by the Brahmins themselves.^ 

Had Marquis Wellesley remained in India» 
mdk beep permitted to complete his salutary plans 
for the .improvement irf that distant Empire (f<[)r 
he did not finish oneiialf of the civil and political 
regulations which he had in view, a^d had actu* 
a%^<cfQipmenced) the Fefaale Sacrifice would 
prc^ipli^y have. b^i| fey. this jtinje nearly ^^oUsh* 
c^t The: humanity .and intrepid T^irit cff that 






dbyGoogk 



46^ Christian Res^rchee ■ 

nobleman abolished a yet more criminal practice^ 
which was considered by the Hindoos as a ref 
^gious pite, and consecrated by custom, I m( 
Sie Sacrifice of Children. His "tiord^l 
had been informed that it had been a dustpni 
the Hindoos to sacrifice children ip coiisfequenci 
^ of vows, by drowning them, or exjiosing thein t( 
* Sharks and Crocodiles; and that tvVertty.thre< 
persons had perished at Saugor Jn one mbnthi 
5[ January 1801) many of whom were sacrificed 
in this manner. He immediately instituted an 
inquiry into the principle of this ancient atrocity, 
heard what Natives and Europeans Iiad to- say on 
"the stibject; and then pa^^ed a law^ "declaring, 
' the practice to be murdel- pumsRtble By d^attfc*' 
Thte Wiis entitled* ^A R^ulatton fcfe* prevent- 
ihg the Sacrifice of Children iat Saugor and ether 
places; passed by the Goveriloi-. General in Coun- 
oil on the/20th of August/ 1802/' The WBrpose 
of this regulatiort Was comptetd^.6ffli(5tea. "Not 
a murniur was Ward on the subjefct: nor has any 
attempt of the kind come to oiir knowledge! 
•since. It is Impossible to calculate the ni^nber 
of human lives that have been saved, during the 1 
last eighryears, by this humane law of Marquis^ ' 
Wellesley. Now it is well knowii that it is*tis 
easy to pre vent the^ sacrifice of \vomen''as the 
sacrifice of ehildi?iert. Hais this fact even befe 
' denied_by any man who is Competent t(i ^ffer a 
jwd^e'nt (^ the Subject? Until the sii^reibc 
Govemmeht in Bengal ^atf declare tHatil^i^fet- 
terfy impracticable to lessen (he frequency of w 
Immolation of •Females by any means, the , 

AUTHOR WILL NOT CEASE 1^0 CAL.L THE AT- 
TENTION OF THE English Nation to this 

SUBJECT* 

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respfdh^ the Mindooff- > 47 



TANJORE. . 

The Letters of King George tbe First to 
le Missionaries in Indki, will form a proper in- 
•odiiction to the accpun^ which is now intended 
) give of tlie Christian Hindoos pf Xanjpre. 
'he first Protestant Mission in India was fo^nd- 
i by Bartholomew Ziegenbalg, a man of crudir 
on and piety, educated at the University of 
lalle in Germany. He was ordained by ; the* 
earned fiurmannus, bishop of Zeala|i4,Jn his 
iveiity- third . year, and sailed for India in 1705. 
n the second year of his ministry he founded ^ 
'hristian Church among the Hindoos, which has 
>een extending its limits to tlie present time. In 
714 he returned to Europe for a short time, and 
w that occasion was honored with an audience 
yhis Majesty George the First, who toc^ much 
nterest in the success of the Mission. He was 
Isd palTonized by **the Society for promoting 
Christian Kbowledge,'' which was «uperintend- 
d by men of distinguished learning and piety. 
The King and the Society, encouraged the Ori- 
ntal Missionary to proceed in his translation of 
he Scriptures into the Tbmw/ tongue, which they 
lestgoated "the grand work.'' This was indeed 
tHE G^AND work;. for wherever the Scriptures . 
ire translated in^ the vernacular Jtou^ue, and arc 
>pen and common to all, in\iting inquiry and 
au^|E% discussion, they cannot remain "a dead 
etter.'' When the Scriptures spe^k to a heathen . 
Q Iris own tongue, his conscience responds, . 
This is the wopd of God." . How little is.the 
inporta^ce of a versipq^ of the J^ible in anew 

Digitized b^VjOOQlC ^~ 



4l8f ' ekristim Jl5w«iltefti»* 

* language understocx) by some! The man wha 
produces a translatic^ of the Bible into a new I 
language (like Wickliffe, and Luther, and Zie- 
^ g^^alg^^nd Garey) is a greater benefkctdr to 
^** mankind th&tt the rriniCewho founds an Empire. 
For the ^'incorruptible seed of the word of God" 
can never dife. After ages have revolved, it is 
stiil'pFOduting new Ift^ce^ions to truth and huniian 
haq;i^itiess. , ' , ' 

In the y^ar 1719, Ziegenbalg finished the Bi- 
ble in thie Tamul tongue, having devoted Jbur- 
teM yeiirs to the work. The peculiar interest 
taken^ by the King in this primary endeavor to 
evangeli^fe the Hindoos, will appear from the fol- 
lowing letters, addreissed to the Missionaries by 
his Majesty. , . 

"OEORGE,^by the Gi^ce of God, King of Great 
Britain» France, and Ireland, Defender of Ac 
Faitb, &c. to the Reverend and {..earned Bar- 
tholofnew Ziegenbalgius and John Ernest 
Grundlerus, Missionaries at Tranqu^bar ^in 
the^ East Indies^ 

"Reverend and Beloved, 

^*Your lettetis dated the 20th of JFanuaiy df ^Die 
present year, were most wekome to us; not bSy 
befdause the work imdertakeh by you of convert- 
ing the heathen to the Chtistian faith, dot|i, by 
tlie grace of C3rod, prosper, but alsa because fliat, 
in this our kingdom, such a laudable ^eal fori 
thd protnotion ^f the Gospel prevails. 
• ^We pray you jna^ be emluifd with 'bealdi 
an* istretijgtfiof body*/' thai you id^ long edn- 

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res0piing the Hindoos. . 4# 

tinue to fulfil your ministry with good success; 
of which, as we shall be rejoiced to hear, so you 
will always find us ready to succor you in what- 
ever may tend to promote your work, and to ex- 
cite your zeaL We assure ypuof the continn- 
' ance of our royal favw* 

^'GEORGE R." 
^Given at our Palace of Hamp- 
ton Court, the ?3d of Au- 
gust, A. D. 1717, in tlie 4th 
year of our Reign," ' 

The King continued to cherish, with much 
solicitude, the interests of the mission, after the 
deatlr of Ziegenbalgius; and in ten years frona 
Ihe date of the foregoing letter, a second was 
addressed to the members of the mission, by his 
Majesty. 

"Reverend and Beloved^ 

**From your letters dated Tranquebar, the 
i2th of September, 1725, which some time 
since can^ to hand, we received much pleasure? 
since by them we are informed, not only ot your 
Jealous exertions in the prosecution of the work 
committe4 to you, but also of the happy success 
which hiith hitherto attended it,. and which hath 
been graciously given of God. 

"We return you thanks for these accounts, 
and it will be acceptable to us, if you continue 
to communicate wnatever shaU occur in the pro- 
gress of your mission. . ^ 

"In the mean tiniej we pfay you may enjoy 
strength of body. and mind for the long continu- 
5 

^ ' * ■ ■ Bigitizedh^COQgle • 



5© Christian Researches 

ance of your labors in this xgood wp^k, to the 
glory of God, and the promotion of Christianity 
among the heathens; that its perpetuity may not, 
fail in generations to come.^ 

"GEORGE R.'» 
**Given at our Palace at St. 

James's, the 23d of February, 

1727, in the 13th year of our 

reign." 

But these Royal Epistles are not the only evan- 
gelic documents, of high authority, in the hands 
of the Hindoos. They are in possession of let- 
ters written by the Archbishop of Canterbury, of 
the same reignjf who supported the interests of 
the mission with unexampled liberality, affection^ 
and zeal. These letters^ which are many in num* 
ber, are all written in the Latin language. The 
following is a translation of his Grace's first let- 
ter; which appears to have been written by him 
as President of the "Society for promoting Chris- 
tian Knowledge." 

**To Bartholomew Ziegenbalgius, and John Er* 
nest Gruodlerus, Preachers of the Christian 
Faith, on the Coast of CoromandeL 

**As often as I behold your letters," Reverend 
Brethren, addressed to the venerable Society in- 
stituted for the promotion of the Gospel, whose 
chief honor and ornament ye are; and as 
often as I contemplate the light of the Gospel, 
either now first rising on the Indiiin nations, or 

*Kiecaniplas« iSficr. Mu*, fArchbifhop Wake. 

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respecting the Hindoos. 51 

after the intermission of some ages again reviv- 
ed, and as it were restored to its inheritance; I 
am constrained to magnify that singular good- 
ness of God in visiting nations so remote; anH 
to account you, my Brethren, highly honored, 
whose ministry It hath pleased him to employ in 
this pious work, to the glory of his name, and 
the salvation p{ so many millions of souls. 

"Let others indulge in a ministry, if not idle, 
certainly less laborious, among Christians at 
home. Let them enjoy in the bosom of the 
Church, titles and honors, obtained without la- 
bor and without danger. Your praise it will be 
(a praise of endless duration on earth, and fol- 
lowed by a just recompense in heaven) to have 
bbored in the vineyard which yourselves have 
planted; to have declared the name of Christ, 
where it was not known before: and through 
much peril and difficulty to have converted to 
'the faith those, among whom ye afterwards ful- 
filled your ministry. Your province, therefore, 
Brethren, your office, I place before all dignities 
in the Church. Let others be Pontiffs, Patri- 
archs, or Popes; let them glitter in purple, in 
scarlet, or in gold, let them seek the admiration 
of the wondering multitude, and receive obei- 
sance on the bended knee. Ye have acquired a 
better name than they, and a more sacred fame. 
And when that day shall arrive when the chief 
Shepherd shall give to every man according to 
his workj a greater reward shall be adjudged to 
you. Admitted into the glorious society of the 
Prophets, Evangelists, and Apostles, ye, wijih 
them shall shine, like the sun among the lesser 
stars, in the kingdom of your Father, for even| 

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'* . ^ 

^ •^^ince then so great honor is now ^ven imt» 
you by all crmi>etent judges on earth, and since 
»o great a lew rd is laid up for you in heavens 
go forth with alacrity to that work, to the which 
the Holy Ghost hath calkd you. God hath al* 
ready given to you an iHustrious pledge of hi^ 
fevor, an increase not to be expected withoutthe 
aid of his grace. Ye have begun happily, pro- 
ceed with spirit. He, who hath carried you 
safely through the dangers of the seas to such a 
remote country, and who hath given you favcw^ 
in the eyes of those whose countenance ye most 
desired; he who hath so liberally and unexpect- 
edly ministered unto your wants, and who doth 
now daily add members tO'VOur Church; he will 
continue to prosper your endeavors, and will sub- 
due unto himself, by your means, the whole Cdn^ 
tirtent of Oriental India. 

"O happy njen! who, standing before the tri- 
bunal of Christ, shall exhibit so many nations 
converted to his faith l^ your preaching; happy 
men! to whom it shall be given to say before the 
assembly of the whole human race, ^'Behold us^ 
O Lord, and the children whom thou hast gives 
us;" happy men! who being justified by tte 
Savior, shall receive in that day the reward of 
your labors, and also shall hear that glorious en^ 
qomium; "Well done, good and faithful servants^ 
^nter ye into the joy of your Lord." 

"May Almighty God graciously favor you and 
your labors, in all things. May he send to yoiu: 
aid fellow-laborers, such and as many as ye wish. 
May he increase the bounds of your Churches. 
May he open the hearty of thosa to whom, ye 



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respeetmg the IBndoM. 53 

IM*e»rh the Gospd of Christ, that hearing you, 
tlay may receive life-giving faith. May he pro- 
tect }rou and yours from all evils and dangers. 
And when ye arrive, (may it be late) at the end 
of your course, may the same God, who hath call- 
ed you to this work of the Gospel, and hath pre- 
served you in it, grant to you the reward of your 
labw, an incorruptible crown of glory. 

"These are the fervent wishes and prayers of> 
venerable bretliren, your most faithful fellow-^ 
servant in Christ. 

"GULIELMUS CANT." 
**From our Palace at Lambeth, 

January 7, a. d. 1719." 

Providence hath been pleased to grant the 
prayer of the King, "that the work might not 
fail in generations to come;" and the prophecy 
of his ArcRbishop is likely to be fulfilled, that it 
flftK>uld extend "over the whole continent of Ori- 
fmtal India." After the first Missionary Ziegen^* 
baig had finished his course, he was followed by 
otlK^r learned and zealous men, upwards of fifty 
m number^ in the period of a hundred years, 
among whom were Schukz, lasnicke, Gericke, 
and Swartz, whose ministry has been continued in 
SQCcesm>n in different provinces, unto this time. 
The present state of the MissicHi, ^vill anpcfar by ' 
the following extract from the Journal ottlie Au- 
thor's Tour through these provinces* 

^^Tranjuebar, ^Sth August y 1806. 
"Tranquebar was the first scene 5f the Protest 
tant Mission in India. There are at present three 
Missionaries here, superintending the Hindoo 
♦5 • ^ 

., ' Digitized by CjOpgle 



V 



V 

54 Christian Researcheg 

Congregatioos. Yesterday I visited the Chuf chr 
built by Zi£G£NBALG. His body lied on oat 
side of the altar, atid that of his feHow Missionary 
Grvkdlsr on theother. Above are the epitaphs 
of both, written in Latin, and engraved on plates- 
ofbrass« The church was consecrated in 1718, 
and Ziegenbalg and his companion died in two 
years after. They laid the foundation for evange- 
lizing India, and then departed, ^having finisl^d 
the work, vi^ich was given them to do.' I .saw* 
also the dwelling house of Ziegenbalg, in the low- 
er apartment of which the registers of tjie Church ' 
are still kept. In th^se I found the name of tlie 
first heathen baptized by him, and recorded in his 
own hand-writing in the yoar 1707. In Ziegen- 
balg's Church, and from the pulpit where he stood, 
I first heard the Gospel preached to a congrega* 
tion of Hindoos, in their owm tongue. The Mis* . . 
sionaries told me that Religion had sufibred much 
in Tranguebar, of late years from Eun^an Infi* ^ 
delity. French urinciplesiiad corrupted the Danesr* 
and rendered them indifferent to their own religion^ ' 
and therefore hostile to the conversion of the Hin*. 
doos. 'Religion,' said they, 'flourishes more 
among the natives of Tanjore and in other proy-, 
inces where there are few Eturopeans, than here 
^r at Madras; for we find that European example 
W the large/towns, b the bane of Christian instruc- 
tion..' One inslaiice of hostility to the Mission 
they mentioned, as having occurred only a few 
weeks before my arrival. On the ninth of July, 
1756, the native Christiaas at Tranquebar cele* 
brated a Jubilee, in commemoration of the j^/W- 
eth year since the Christian ministers brought the " 
Bible from Europe.^ The present year 1806, 1^* 

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ing the seccHld SOtb, preparations ws^ne mwie at 
Tranquebar for the second Jubilee, on the 9th o£: 
last month; but the French principles prepondera-' 
ting in the Government, they woiild tiot ^ire it any 
public support; in eonsequenee of which it was 
not observed with thai solemnity Which was iu* 
tended* But in other places, where there were 
few Europeans, it was celebrated by the hative 
Christians with enthusiasm and every demoristra^ 
tioft of joy. When I expressed my astoni^ment at. 
this hostility, the aged Missionary, Dr. John, said, 
*I have always remarked that the disciples of Vol- 
taire are the true enemies of Mbsioas, and that the 
enemies of Missions are,, in general, the disci^es 
of Voltaire.^ '* . / 

7 *'Tanjore, SOth jiugust, 1606. 

•*On my entering this Province, I stopped an 
hoOr at a village near the road; iind there I first 
he^d the name of Swartz pronounced by a 
Hindoo; When I arrived at the capital, I wait- 
e4'on Major Blackbume, the British Resident at 
the Court of Tanjore, who informed me that the 
Rajah had appointed the next day at 12 o'clock 
to receive my visit. On the same day I went to 
Swartz's' garden close to the Christian village, 
where tl^ ReV. Mr. KohlofF resides. Mr. Kohl- 
oflPis theVorthy successor of Mr. Swartz; and 
with him i found the Rev. Dr. John, and Mr.- 
Horst, two other Mistsionaries who were on a vis- 
it to Mr. Kohloff. 

**Next day I visited the Rajah of Tanjore, in 
company with- Major Blackburne. When the 
first cerenK)nial was over, the Rajah conducted ua 
to the grand saloon, which was adorned by the 
porttaits of his ancestors; and immediately led me 

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\ 



96 Christum Researches 

yp to the jx>rtrak of Mr. Swdrtz, He then diseours*. 
ed for a considerable time concerning that 'good 
man,' whom he ever revered a$ *his fether, and 
guardian.' The Rajah speaks and writes English 
very intelligibly. I smiled to see Swartz's pfc* 
ture amongst these Hindoo kings, and thtnighrtf 
with myself that there arc many who would thiivk 
such a combination scarcely possible. I tbe» 
addressed the Rajah, and thanked him, in the 
name of the Church of England, for his kindness 
to the late Mr. Svvartz, and to his successors, and 
particukiiy for his recent acts of benevolence to^ 
the Christians residing within his provj(||ces. 
The Missionaries had just informed me th^ the 
Rajah had erected *a College for Hindoos^ Ma- . 
bomedans, and Christians;^ in which provisioit 
was made for the instruction of ^Jiji^ Christie 
children.' His Highness is very desirous that I* 
should visit this College, which is only aboul 
sixteen miles from the capital. Having heard crf^ 
the fame of tbe ancient SHanscrit, and Mahraitlft . 
Library of the kings of Tanjore, I requested hik 
Highness would present a catalogue <rf its volumdl^ 
to the College of Fort- William; which he was 
jdeasec^'to do. It is voluminous, and written 
ih the lyiahratta character; for that is the pro- 
per language of the Tanjore Court. » - • 

'*In the evening I dined with the Resident, and- 
the Rajah sent lys band of music, consistmg ^ 
eight or more rinas with other instruments^ 
The Firm or JBeen^ is the ancient instrument 
which Sir William Joneshas despribed in his in- 
teresting descant on the musical science of the- 
Hindoos, in the Asiatic Researches, and the sight 
of which, he says, he fpund it sfo difficult taobtaia 

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in northern India. .The baud played die English air 
ctf *God save the King,' set to Mahratto words, and 
applied to the Maha Rqah, or Qreat King of Tan- 
jore. Two of the Missionaries dined at the Res- 
ident's house, together with some English officers. 
Mr. Kohloff informed me that Major Bkckbumc 
haspromoted the interests of the Mission by every 
means in his power. Major Blackbume is a maa • 
of superior attainments, amiable manners, and a 
hoqjitable disposition; and is well qualiBcd for the 
important station he has long held, as Englii^ Res* 
ident at this Court. 

**On the day following, I went to view the Hin^ 
doo Tempks, and a^w the great Bi» ack Bull of 
Tanjore. It is said to be of one stone, hewn out 
of a rock ofgr^te; and so large that the Tettiple 
Was built around it* While I siu-veyed it, I reflect 
ted on the multitude of natives, who during the 
last hundred vyears, had turned away their ^es 
6om this idol. When I xeturned, I sal some 
hours with the Missidnaries, copvpr^g on the 
general state of Cliristianity in the provinces rf 
Tanjore, Tritchinopoly, Madura, and Palamcot* 
tnh. They want help* Their vuieyard is Increase 
ed> and their laborers are decreased. They 
liave had no supply from Germany in the room of 
Swartz, Isenicke, and Gericke; and they have no 
proiq^ect of fi^rther supply, except from *tbe So- 
ciety for i»*omoting Christian Knowledge;' whoi 
they hope, will be able to send out English 
Preachers to perpetuate the Mission.'' 



(fti 



''Taryore, Sept. 2, 1806. 
^Last Sunday and Monday were interesting 
days to me, at Tat)jore« It being rumored that 

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// 



oS Christian Researched 

a friend of the late Mr. Swartz had arrived, the 
• people assembled from all quarters. On Sunday 
three Sermons were preached in three different 
languages. At eight o'clock we proceeded to the 
Church built by Mr. Swartz within the Fort.| 
From Mr. Swartz's pulpit I preached in English 
from M^rk xiii, 10; *And the Gospel must first. 
be published among all nations.* The English 
gentlemen here attended, civil and military, with 
the Missionaries, Catechists, and British soldiers. 
After this service was ended, the congregation of 
Hindoos assembled in the same Church, and filled 
the aisles and porches. The TamulScrvict com- 
menced with some forms of prayer, in which all the 
congregation joined with loud fervor. A chapter , 
trf the Bible was then read, and a hymn of Luther's 
fiung. Afi:er a short extempore prayer, duriirr^ 
which the whole congregation knelt on the floor, 
the Rev. Dr. John delivered an anhi-^ted Dis- 
course in the Tamul Tongue, from these words, 
-♦Jesus stood and cried, skyirtg, If any man thirst, 
let him come to me and drink.' As Mr. White- 
field, on his first going to Scotland, was surpris- 
cd at Jhe rwstling of the leaves of the Bible, which 
took fHce immediately on his pronouncing his 
text (so diflferent from any thing he had seen in 
his own country) so I was surprised hiere' at the 
sound of the iron pen engraving the Palmyra 
leaf. Many persons had their Olios in their 
bands writing the Sermon in Tamul short-hand. 
Mr. Kohloff assured me that some of the dder 
Students. and Catechists will not lose a word of 
the preacher if he speak delibefatdy.* This, 

♦It IS well known that natives of Tanjorc and Travaiibftre can 
write fluently what is i^ken deliberately. They do n^l look 

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respecting the IMndooi^ 5if 

Aou^t I, is more than some of the Students at 
our English Universities can do« This, ap^iide * 
of the people to record the words of the preacher, 
reucjers it peculiarly necessary 'that the priests* 
lips should keep knowledge.' An old rule of 
the Mission is, that the Sermon of the morning 
should be read to the Schools in the evening, by 
theX^atechist, from his Palmyra leaf. 

** Another custom obtains among them which 
pleased me much. In tlie midst of the discourse 
the preacher sometimes putS; a question to the 
congregation; who answer it without hesitation^ 
in on^oice. The object is to kc?p their atten* 
ivm awake^ and the minister generally prompts 
the answer himself Thus, suppose that he is 
spying, "My dear Brethren, it is true that your 
profession of the faith of Ciirist is attended with 
sqrae reproach, and that you have lost your cast 
w^ the Brahmins. But your case is not-pecu- 
liar. The man of the world is the man of cast 
in, Europe; and lie despises the humble and de-» 
vqut disciple of Christ, even as your Brahmin 
CQQtemns the Sooder^ But, thus it hath been ^ 
from the beginning. Every faithful Chnstian 
must lose cast for the Gospel; ev^i aslChrist 
hjmself, the Forerunner, made himself of no re- 
putation, and was despised^ tod rejected of men. 
In like manner, you will be despised; but be of 
good cheer, ami say. Though we^ have lost our 
cast and inheritance amongst men, we shall re- 
cdve in heaven a new name and a better inl^rit- 
aace, through Jesus Christ our Lord." He then 

aucU at their oHm whrle writing. Tbe fibre of the leaf gutdei 
<^pen. 



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./' 



adds, What, my beloved Brethren, shall you ob- 
tain in heaven? They answer, * A new name and 
a better inheritance, through Jesus Christ our 
Lord.' It is impossible for a stranger not to be 
affected with -this scene. This custom is de- ; 
duced ftt>m Ziegenbalg, who proved its use by 
long experience* 

"After the Sermon was ended, I returned with 
the Missionaries into the vestry or library of the 
Church. Here I was introduced to the Elders 
and Catechists of the congregation. Among 
others cmneSATTiANADEN, the Hindoo preach- 
er-, one of whose Sermons was publislicd in jJEng- 
land some years ago, by the Society for promot* 
ing Christian Knowledge. He is now advanced 
in years, and his black locks have grown gray. 
As I returned from the Church I saw the Chris- 
tian, families going back ia crowds to the coun- 
try, and the boys looking at their ollas. Whut a 
contrast, thought I, is this to the scene at Jugger- 
naut! Here ttere is becoming dress, humane af- 
fections, and ratbnal discourse. I see here no 
skulls, no self-torture, no self-murder, no dogs 
and vid^res tearing human flesh! Here the Chris- 
tian vmues are found in exercise by the feeble- 
minded Hindoo, in a vigor and purity which will 
surprise those who have never known the native 
character but under the greatest disadvantages, 
as in Bengal. It certainly surprised tnyself; and 
when I reflected on the moral condtict, upright 
dealing, and decorous maniifers of the native 
Christians of Tanjore, I found in my breast a 
new evidence of the peculiar excellence and be* 
nign influence of the Christian Faith. . ' 



# 



dbyUoogle 



rtspeding the Hindoos. 61 

"At four o'clock in*the afternoon, we attend- 
ed Divine Service at the Chapel in the Mission 
Garden out of the Fort. The Rev. Mr. Horst 
preached in the Portuguese Language. The or- 
gan here accompanied tiie voice in singing. I sat 
on a granite stone which covered the grave of 
Swartz. The epitaph is in English verse, writ- 
ten by the preseru Rajah* and signed by him, 
*Scrfogee.* In the evening Mr. KohloiSF presid- 
ed at me exercise in the schools: on which occa- 
sion the Tamul Sermon was repeated, and the 
boys' ollas examined. 

**In consequence of my having expressed a 
wish to hear Sattianaden preach, Mr. Kohloff 
had given notice that there would be Divine Ser- 
vice next day, Monday. Accordingly the Cha* 
pel in Swartz's garden was crowded at an early 
hour. Sattianaden delivered his Discourse in 
the Taniui language, with much natural elo- 
quence, and with visible effect. His subject was 
Ae *Marvellous Light.' He first described the 
pagan darkness, then the liglit of Ziegeubalg^ 
then the light of Swartz, and then the heavenly 
light, *when there shall be no more: need of the 
light of the sun, or of the moon.' In quoting a 
passage from Scripture, he desired a lower niin- 
isteivto read it, listening to it as to a record; and 
then proceeded to the illustration. The responses 
by the audience were more frequently called for 
than in the former Sermon. He concluded with 
praying fervently lor the glory and prosperity of 
the Church of Engtend. After the Sermon^ I 
went up to Sattianaden, and the old Christians 
who had known Swartz came around us. They 
were anxious to hear something of the progress 
6 

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63 Cliristian Researches^ 

of Christianity in the North of India. They, said 
they had heard good news from Bengal. I told 
them that the news were good, but that Bengal 
was exactly a hundred years behind Tanjore. 

*'Ihave had long conversations with the Mis* 
sionaries,' relating to the present circumstances of 
the Tanjore Mission, It is in a laiiguishing state 
at this moment, in consequence of the war on the 
Continent of Europe, ijivo of its sources have 
dried up, the Royal CoHege at Copenhagen, and 
the Orphan-house at Haile, in Germany. Their 
remaining resource from Europe is the stipend 
of "The Society for promoting Christian Knowl- 
edge," whom they never mention but with emo- 
tions of gratitude and affection. But this supply 
is by no means commensurate with the increase 
ing number of their Churches and Schools. The 
chief support of the Mission is derived from it- 
self. Mr. Sw^artz had in his lifetime acquired a 
considerable property, through the kindness of 
the English Government and of the Native Prin- 
.ces. When he was dying, he said, '%et^tliB 
cause of Christ be my heir." When his col- 
league, the pious Gericke, was departing, he also 
bequeathed his property to the Mission. And 
now Mr. Kohloft* gives from his private funds an 
annual sum; not that he can well aflford it>^ but . 
the Mission is so extended, that he gives it, he 
told me, to preserve the new and remote congre- 
gations iu existence. He stated that there were 
upwards ol ten thousand Protestant Christians 
belonging to the Tanjore and Tinavelly districts 
alone, who had not among them one complete copy 
of the Bible; and that not one Christian perhaps in a 
hundred, had a New Testament; and yet there 



dbyGoogk 



respecting the Hindoos. 63 

are some copies of the Tamul Scriptures siill 
to be sold at Tranqiiebar: but the poor na- 
tives cannot afford to purchase them. When t 
mentioned the designs of the Bible Society in 
England they received the tidings with very sen- 
sible emotions of thankfulness. Mr. Horst said, 
If only every tenth person were to obtain a copy 
of the Scriptures, it would be an event long to 
be remembered in Tanjore. They lamented 
much that they were destitute of the aid of a print- 
ing-press, and represented to me that the prog- 
ress of Christianity had been materially retarded 
of late years by the want of that important auxil- 
iary. They have petitioned the Society for pro- 
moting Christian Knowledge to send them one. 
They justly observed. If you can no longer send 
us Missionaries to preach the Gospel, send us 
the means of printing the Gospel.^ The Tran- 
quebar Mission and the Madras Mission have 
both possessed printing-presses for a long period; 
by the means of* whichthey have been extensive^ 
ly useful in distributing the Scriptures and relig-* 
ious publications in several languages. The 
Mission Press at Tranquebar may be said to have 
been the fountain of all the good that was done 
ill India during the last century. It was estab- 
lished by Ziegenbalg. From this press, in con- 

•The Brahmins in Tanjore have procured'a press, "which tbey 
dedicate (say the Missionaries in their last letter) to the glory 
of their gods i** but the Missionaries, who first introduced the 
eivtltzation of Cliristianity at the Tanjore capital, are still with- 
ovit one. Printing is certainly the legitimate instrument of the 
Christian for the promulgation of Christianity. We Protestants 
bave put it into the hands of the Brahmins, and we ought to see 
to it, that the teachers of our own religion are possessed of au 
c^qual advantage. ^ 



dbyGoogk 



64 Chtistian Researches^ 

junction with that at Halle in Germany have pf»- 
ceedt^d voKimes in ArabiiJ, Syiiac, Hindoslance, 
Tamul, Telinga, Portugtiese, Danish, and Eng. 
lish. I have if) my possession the Psabus of David 
in the Hindostanee Language, printed in the Ara- 
bic character; and the History of Clirist in Syri- 
Qc, intended probably for the Syro-Romish Chris- 
tians on the sea coast of Travancore, whom a 
Danish Missionary once visited, both of which 
vokimes were edited by the Missionaries of Tran- 
quebar. There is also in Swartz's Library at 
Tanjore, a Grammar of the Hindostanee Lan- 
guage in quarto, published at the same press; an 
important fact which was net known at the College 
of Fort-William, when' Professor Gilchrist com- 
menced his useful labors in that language." 

'\Tanjorey Sept. 3, 1806. 
Before I left the capital of Tanjore, the Rajah 
was pleased to honor me with a second audience. 
On this occasion he presented to me a portrait of 
himself, a very striking likeness, painted by a 
Hindoo artist at the Tanjore Court.f The Mis- 
sionary, Dr. John, accompanied me to the palaoe. 
The Rajah received him with much kindness, and 
presented to him a piece of gold cloth. Of the 
resident Missionary Mr. KohlofF, whom the Ra- 
jah sees frequently, he spoke *to me in terms of 
igh approbation. This cannot be very agreea- 
ble to the Brahmins; but the Rajah, though he 
yet professes the Brahminical religion, is no lon- 
ger obedient to the dictates of the Brahmins, and 
they are compelled to admit his superior attain- 

fit is now placed in the Public Lit>rar^ of the l/niv^irsity of 
Qan>kridgc.^ 

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i' 



pespecting the Hindoos. 65 

ments in knowledge. I passed the chief part of 
this morning in looking over Mr. Swartz's man- 
uscripts and books: and when I was coming away 
Mr. Kohloff presented to me a Hebrew Psalter, 
which iiad been Mr. Swartz's companion for fifty 
years; also a brass lamp which he had got first 
when a Student at the College of Halle, and had 
used in His lucubrations to the time of his death; 
for Mr. Swartz seldom preached to the^ natives 
without previous study. I thought I saw tlie im- 
age of Swartz in his successor. Mr. KohloflF is a 
man of great simplicity of manners,of meek deport- 
ment, and of ardent zeal in the cause of revealed 
Religion, and of humanity. He walked with me 
through the Christian village close to his house; 
and I was much pleased to see the affectionate 
respect of the people towards him; the young 
people of both sexes coming forward from the 
dpors on both sides, to salute him and receive his 
benediction."* 
« 

•Tliat I may ^ive to those who are interested in tlie promotion 
of Christianity in the East, a more just view of the character of 
Swartz's successor, the Rev. Mr. Kohloft^ 1 shall subjoin an Ex- 
tract of a Letter which 1 have since received from the Rev. Mr^ 
Horst. 

"Tanjore, Sett. 24, 1807. 

The Rev, Mr, Kohloff is sometimes rather weak, on account 
of so many and various cares thajt assiiil him without ceasing. He 
provides for the wants of this and tlie Southern Missions (Trilch- 
inopoly excepted) by disbursinif annually upwards of one thous- 
and pagodas (about /. 250 stcrhng) out of his private purse, partr 
}y to make up the difference between the income and expendi- 
ture of this and th^ Southern Mission (of which I annex an Ab* 
•tract) and the rest in assisting the deserving poor, vaithout re- 
gard to reiigions and for various pious uses. To him, as Arbitra- 
tor and Father, apply all Christians that are at variance, disturb- 
ed from without or from within, out of service or distressed; 
Sot most of our Christians will do any thing rather than ^o to lavj. 

All these heterogeneous, but, to a Missionary at Tanjore, un- 
*Toi4at>le avocations, joined to the ordinary duties of his 8tfttion> 

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66 Christian Resemrches^ 

^'September, Ath, 1805. 
Leaving Tanjorejpassed through the woods in- 
habited by the Collaries (or thicves)now humaniz- 
edibx Christianity. When they understood who I 
was, they followed me on the road, stating their 
destitute condition, in regard to religious instruc- 
tion. They were clamorous for Bibles. They 
supplicated for teachers. "We don't want bread 
or money from you, said they; but we want the 
word of God." Now, thought I, whose duty i^ 
it to attend to the moral wants of this people? Is 
it that of the English nation, or of some othet 
nation?'^ 

^^Tritchmopoly^ September^ ith. 
The first Church built by Swartz is at thi^ 
place. It is called Christ's Church, and is a large 
building, capable of containing perhaps two hun* 
dred people.* The aged Missionary, tfie Rev. 
Mr. Pohle, presides over this Church, and over 
tlie native congelations at this place/ Chris- 
tianity flourishesft T>ut I found that here, as at oth- 
cr places, there is a *famine of Bibles,! The Ju- 
bilee was celebrated on the 9th of July, being the 

exercise his mind early and late; and if he is not of a robust coir- 
stitution, will underntinc his health ^at last. Happily, several 
neighboring Churches and new congrerations, belonging to the 
Missioiv of Tanjore, afford Mr. Kohloff frequent opportunitieu to 
relait his mind, and to recruit his health and spirits, by making- 
©ccaaional short excursions to see these new Christians, viho 
were professed thieves only a /em years aga, and many of them ar& 
»ow an honor to the Christian profession, and industrious peasants. It 
is pleasing to behold the anxiety with which a great number of 
our Christian cliiWren inquire at such times when their father 
will return; and how Uiey run several miles to meet him witli . 
thouts and clapping of hands, and hymns of thanks to God, as> 
^oen as they discern his palankeen at adistance." 

^Probably an exrorof th« PreM for SOOa Jhtu^^Zd. 

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respecHngtJte Smdo^. 6? 

hundredth ]f ear from the arrival of the messengers 
of the Gobpel. On this occasion their venerable 
Pastor i>reached from Matt, xxviii, 19; •*Go jre 
tterefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them 
in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and 
of the Holy Ghost." At this station, there are , 
about a thousand English troops. Mr. PoUe 
being a German, does not speak English very 
well; but he is reverenced for his piety by the 
English; and both officers and men are glad to 
hear the religion of their country preached in any 
way* On the Sunday morning, I preached in 
Christ's Church to a full assembly, from these 
words, *For we have seen his Star in the East, 
and are come to worship him.' Indeed what I 
had seen in these provinces rendered this text 
the most appropriate I could select. Next day 
some of the English soldiers came to me, desir- 
ing to know how they might procure Bibles •It 
is a delightful thing, said one of them, to hear 
our own wligion preached by our own country, 
man.' I am informed that there are at this time 
above twenty English regiments in India, and 
that not one of them has a chaplain. The men 
Kve witjiout religion, and then they bury each 
other. O England, England, it is not for thine 
own goodness that Providence giveth thee the 
treasures of India! 

"I proceed hence to visit the Christian Church- 
es in the provinces of Madura^ and Tinavelly."^ 

The friends c^ Christianity in India have had 
it in their power to afford some^aid to the Chris- 
tian Churcnes in Tanjore. On the first of Jana- 
ary of the present year (1810,J the Rev. Mr. 

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68 Christian Researches 

* 
Brown preached a Sermon at Calcutta, in which 
he represented the petition of the Hindoos for 
Bibles. A plain statement of the fact was suffi- 
cient to open the hearts of the pubhc. A sub- 
scription was immediately set on foot, and Lieut. 
General Hewitt, Commander in Chief, then Dep- 
uty Governor in Bengal, subscribed <£.250. 
The chief officers of government, and the princi- 
pal inhabitants of Calcutta, raised the subscription, 
in a few days, to the the sum of of .1000 sterling. 
Instructions were sent to Mr. KohlqfT, to buy up 
all the copies of the Tamul Scripture; to distrib- 
ute them at a small price amongst the natives, and 
to order a new edition to be printed off without 
loss of time.* 



VERSIONS OF THE SCRIPTURES FOR 
THE HINDOOS. 

Having now seen what the Hindoos^rie in their 
state of idolatry, as at Juggernaut, and in Ben- 
gal; and what they may become under the inftu- 
ence of Christianity, as at Tranquebar, Tritchin- 
opoly, aqd Tanjore; it remains, to give some 

•The chief names in this subscription, besides that of General 
Hewitt, were Sir John Royds, Sir' W. Borroughs, John Lums- 
den, Esq. George Udney, Esq. J. H. Harrtnglon, Esq. Sir John 
D'Oyley, Colonel Carey, John Thornhill, Esq. R. C. Plpwden, 
Esq. Tho's Hayes, Esq. W. Egerton, Esq. &c. &c. 

Thus, while we are disputing in England whether the Bible 
ought to be given to the Hindoos, the Deputy Governor in Ben* 
gal, the Members of the Supreme Council, and of the Supreme 
Court of Judicature, and the chief officers of the Government, I 
after perusing the information concerning the state of Indi* sent 
from this country, a^ satisfied that it it an importAnt duty» aad 
a Christian oMig^tiop. 



dbyGoogk 



respecting the Hindoos. 6J 

account of the translation of the Scriptures into 
the languages of the Hindoos. 

There are five principal languages s):>oken by 
Hindoos in countries subject to the British Em- 
pire. These are, the Hindostanee^ which per* 
vades Hindostan general!}'; and the four lans- 
guages of the four great provinces, viz. the Btt^ 
galeCy for the province of Bengal; the Tekng€$^ 
for tlie Northern Sircars; the Tamuly for Coro- 
mandel, and the Carnatic; and the Malayalim^ 
or Malabar^ for the coast of Mriabar and Trav- 
ancore. 

Of these five languages, tliere are two, into 
which the Scriptures are already translated; the 
Tamuly by the Danish Missionaries in the last 
century; and the Bengalee^ by the Baptist Mis^ 
sionaries from England. The remaining three 
languages are in progress of trandation; the tRn^ 
dostanee, by the Rev. Henry Martin, B. A. Chap- 
lain in Bengal',* the Malabar ^ by Mar Diony- 
5ius, Bishop of the Syrian Christians in Travan- 
core; both of which translations will be noticed 
more particularly hereafter; and the Telingay by 
Ananda Rayer, a Telinga Brahmin, by birth a 
Mahratta, under the superintendancc^f Mr, Au- 
gustus Desgranges at Vizagapatam, a Missionary 
belonging to the London Society. 

Ananda Rayer, a Brahmin of high cast, was 
lately converted to the Christian faith, and has 
given undoubted proofs of the serious impression 

*It was before mentioned that the Gospels were translated in- 
to Ifindostatteey Sind part of thera printed in the College of Fort- 
Witliam. Another version has since been published by the Bap- 
list Missionaries. Fhe Hindostanee being spoken over such ex- 
tenaive reipons, varies much in its dialects. 



dbyGoogk 



to Christian Researches 

of its principles on his heart.* It is remarkable 
that versions of the Scriptures should be now 
preparing for the Mahomedans and Hindoos, by 
their own converted countrymen; namely, the 
Persian and Arabic versions, by Sab at the 
Arabian; and the Telinga version by An an da 
Rayer, the Telinga Brahmin. The latter has 
translated the four Gospels, and the Acts of the 

* The account of Anamla Rayer's conversion is given by the * 
Rev. Dr. John, the agfed Missionary at Tranquebar. in a leller 
to Mr. Desgranges, This Brahmin applied (as many Brahmins 
and other Hindoos constantly do) to an older Brahmin of some 
lame for sanctity, to know "what he should do that he might be 
saved?" The old Brahmin told him, that "he must repeat a cer- 
tain prayer four lack of times:" that is, 400»000 times. This he 
performed in a Pagoda, in six. months; and added many painful 
ceremonies. But finding no comfort or peace from these exter- 
Jial rites, he went to a Romish Priest, and asked him if he knew 
what was the U*ue religion? The Priest gave him some Christian 
books in the Telinga language; and^ after a long inveistigatioa of. 
Christianity, the inquiring Hindoo had no doubt remaining on his 
mind, that "Christ was the Savior of the world." But he was 
not satiated with t!»e Romish worship in many' points: he dislik- 
ed the adoration of images, and other superstition^: and having 
heard from the Priests themselves, that the Protestant Christians 
at Tanjore and Tranquebar, professed to have a purer faith, and 
had got the Bible translated, and worshipped no images; he vis- 
ited Dr. John, and the other- Missionaries at Tranquebar, whei-e 
he remained four months, conversing, says Dr. Joliu, "almost 
every day with me»** and examining tlie Holy Scriptures.' He 
soon acquired ihe famul Language (which has affinity with the 
Telinga) that he might read the Tamultranslationj and he finally 
became a member of the Protestant Church. 

The Missionaries at Vizagapatam being in want of a learne4 
Telinga scholar, to assist them in a translation of the Scrlptureii 
into the Telinga language. Dr. John recommended Ananda Ra* 
yer; "for he was averse, says he, to undertake any worldly em.» 
ployment, and had a great^esire to be useful to his brethren' of 
the Telinga nation." The reverend Missionary concludes thus: 
'•What Jesus Christ hath required of his followers, this man 
hath literally done; he hath left father, mother, sisters, and 
brothers, and houses, and lands,^ for \he Gospel's sake." 

See Dr John's Letter, dated ,29th January, 1808, communica- 
ted to the Bible Society by the Rev. Mr. Brown. 



dbyGoogk 



respecting the ^3i%Joii«c- ''I 

Apostles. The progress of Sabat Ih Vm« transla- 
tions will be noticed hereafter, 



THE CEYLONESE. 

In the island of Ceylon, the population under 
the British Government amounts, according to 
the best authorities, to upwards of a million and 
a half; and one third is supposed to profess 
Christianity, This population was divided by 
the Dutch, while they had possession of the 
island, into 240 church-ships, and three native 
schoolmasters were appointei) to each church- 
ship. The Dutch government never gave an 
official appointment to any native who was not a 
Christian; a distinction which was ever consider- 
ed by them as a wise policy*, as well as a Christian 
duty, and which is continued by his Majesty's 
Government in Ceylon. Perhaps it is not gen- 
erally known in England that our Bengal and 
Madras Governments do not patronize the native 
Christians, They . give official appointments to 
Mahomedans and Hindoos generally in preference 
to natives professing Christianity, The chief 
argument for the retention of this system is pre^ 
cedenl. It was the practice of the first settlers. 
But it has been olten observed that what might 
proper or necessary in a factory^ may not be 
olerable in a great Empire. It is certain that 
' is system confirms prejudice, exposes our reli- 
ion to contempt in the eyes of the natives, and 
rccludes every ray of hope of the future preva- 
nce of Christianity at the seats of Government* 



dbyGoogk 



"12 tSiri'*^^^ Researches 

'fJt^a^patam, in Ceylon, Sept. 27, 1806. 

•'From the Hindoo Tempk of Ramisseram, I 
xjrossed over to Ceylon, keeping close to Adam's 
bridge. I was surprised to find that all the boat- 
men were Christians of Ceylon. I asked the 
helmsman what religion the English professed, 
who now governed the island. He said he could 
not tell, only that they were not of the Portu- 
guese or Dutch religion. I was not so much 
surprised at his ignorance afterwards, as I was at j 
tlie time. 

•'I have had the pleasure to meet here with 
Alexander Johnstone, Esq.* of the Supreme 
Court of Judicature, who is on the circuit; a 
man of large and liberal views, the friend of 
karning, and of Christianity. He is well ac- 
quainted with the language of the country, and 
wiih the histor}' of the island; and his profes- 
sional pursuits afford him a particular knowledge 
erf its present state; so that his conimunications 
are truly valuable. It will be scarcely believed in 
England, that there are here Protestant Churches 
under the King's government which are with- 
out ministers. In the time of Bald^us, the 
Dutch preacher and historian, there were tfnriy- 
two Christian Churches in the province of Jaffna 
alone. At this time there is not one Protestant Eu- 
ropean Minister in the whole province, t ought 
to except Mr. Palm, a solitary Missionary, who 
has been sent > out by the London Society, and 
receives some stipeml from the British Govern- 
:ment. I visited Mr. Palm, at his residence a few 
miles from the town of Jaffna. He is prosecuthig 

•Now Sir Alexander Johnstone, Chief Justice of CeyloQ. 

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respecting the Ce^lonese. 73 

^&e study of the Tamul Language; for that is the 
language of this part of Ceylon, from its proximity 
to-the Tamul Continent. Mrs. Palm has made 
as great progress in the language as her husband, 
and is extremely active ;n the instruction of the na- 
tive women and children. I asked her if she had 
no wish to return to Europe, after living so long- 
among the uncivilized Cingalese. No, she said; 
die was *allthe day long hapi)y in the communica- 
tion of knowledge.' Mr. Palm has taken posses- 
sion of the old Protestant Church of Tilly Pally. 
By reference to the history, I found It was the 
Church in which Baldaeus himself preached (as he 
Wmself mentions) to a congregation of fwo thou- 
sand natives; for a view of the Church is given in 
his work. Most of those handsome Churches of 
which views gfre given in the plates of Baldaeus's 
history, are now in rui^ns. Even in the towntnd 
fort of Jafiha, where there is a spacious edifice for 
Divine Worship, and a respectable society of 
English and Dutch inhabitants, no Clergyman has 
been yet appointed. The only Protestam preach- 
er in the town of Jaffna is Christian David^ a Hin- 
doo Catechist sent over by the Mission of Tran- 
quebar. His chief ministrations are in tl\e Tamul 
Tongue; but he Sometimes preaches ji/!he £ng- 
lish Language, which he sf^eaks with tolerable pro- 
priety; and the Dutch and -English resort to hear 
him. I went with the rest to his Church; when 
he delivered extempore a very excellent Dis- 
course, which his present Majesty George the 
Thir4 would not have disdaiiKd to hear, ^^d 
this Hindoo supports <ht; interests of ij^e English 
Chyrch in the province of Jaffna. The Duich 
ministers who formerly officiated here, have gone 
7 

, * "^ 

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74 Christian Researches 

to Batavia or to Europe. The whole district is 
now in the hands of the Romish priests from the 
College of Goa; who perceiving the indiflference 
of the English nation to their own religion, have 
assumed quiet and undisturbed possession of the 
land. And the English Government justly pre- 
ferring the Romish superstition to the worship of 
the idol Boodha^ thinks it fight to countenance 
the Cadiolic Religion in Ceylon. But whenever 
our Church shall direct her attention to the pro- 
motion of Christianity in the East, I know of no 
place which is more worthy of her labor, than the 
old Protestant Vineyard of Jaffna Patam. The 
Scriptures are already prepared in the Tamiil 
Language. The language^ of the rest of Ceylon 
is the Cingalese^ or Ceylonese.^^ 

^'Coiumbo, in CeyloHi lOth March^ 1808. 

" 1 find that tlu: south part of the ihland is ia 

much the same state as the north, in regard to 
Christian instruction. There are but two Eng- 
lish Clergymen in the whole island. •What 
wonder' (said a Romish priest to me) *that yoqr 
nation should be so little interested about tHe 
conversion of the Pagans to Christianity, when 
it doe^ not even give teachers to its own sub- ' 
jects who ai:e already Christians?* I ^as not sur- 
prised to hear that great numbers of the Protes- 
tants every year go back to idolatry. Being des- 
titute of a Head to take cognizance of their state, 
they apostatize to Boodha^ as the Israelites turn- 
ed t9 Baal and A^hterbth. It is perhaps true 
that the religion ol Christ htis never been so dis* . 
graced in any age of the Church, as it has been 



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respecting the Ceylonese. -75 

lately, by our official neglect of the Protestant 
Church in Ceylon. 

"I passed the day at Mount Lavinia^ the coun- 
try residence of General Maitland, the Governor 
of Ceylon; and had some conversation vi^ith his 
Excellency on the religious state of the country. 
He desired I vvould commit to writing, and leave 
with him a memorandum of inquiries which I 
wished should be made on subjects relating to 
the former prevalence of the Protestant Religion 
in the island, ffnd the means of reviving and es- , 
tablishing it once more. Hi^ Excellency express- 
ed his conviction that some Ecclesiastical Estab- 
lishment ought to be ^iven to Ceylon; as had 
been given to other Colonies of His Majesty in 
America and the West Indies. He asked what 
was the cause of the delay in given an Ecclesias- 
tical Establishment to the Continent of India. I 
told him I supposed the chief cause was the mix- 
ed government of oiir Indian Empire. It was 
saW to be a question at home, who ought to orig- 
inate it. Had there been no revolution in Europe 
to distract the attention of the nation, and had Mr. 
Pitt lived, many things of a graixl and arduous 
character would have been done which are yet 
left undone. There are now three Missionaries 
of the London Society established in three di^er- 
ent parts of the island. It gave me great pleas- 
ure to find^that General Maitland, and the senior 
Chaplain at Columbo, the Honorable Mr. Twis- 
leton, had afforded their patronage in the most lib- 
eral manner to these useful teachers. Govern- 
ment has allowed to each of them an annual stipend. 
In returning from the country I passed through 
Ihe groves of Cinnamon, which extend nearljr 

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76 Christian Researches, 

a mile'^n length, Ceylon is believed by somfe rf 
the Etistenis, both Mahomedans and Hindoos, to 
hhvc been the residence of the first man (for the 
Hindoos h^vea First man, and a Garden of Eden, 
as well as the Christians;) because it abounds in 
"Trees pleasant to the eyes, and good for food;** 
and is famous for its rare metals and precioij^ 
stones. "Ther^ is gold, bdellium, and the onyx- 
stone." The roiiky ridge which connects thisr 
happy island with the main land, is called Adam^s 
^Bridge; the lofty mountain in the middle of thie 
island every where visible, is called Adam's Peak: 
and there is a sepulchre of immense length, which 
they pall Abel's Tomb. All these names Were 
given many ages before the introduction of Chris-, 
tianity from Europe. The Cinnamon trees love 
a sandy soil. The surface of the ground appear- 
ed to be entirely sancL I thought it wonderful 
that the njost valuable of all trees should grow in 
luxuViance in such an arid soil without human 
i^ulture. I compared them in my mind to the 
Ceylon Christians in their present state, who are 
left to flourish by themselves under the blessing of 
heaven, without those external and rational aids 
which have been divinely appointed to nouriiih 
the Church of Christ." 

''Cdumbo, llth March, 1808. 

"I have conversed with intelligent persons on 
the means of trjanslating the Scriptures into the 
Cingalese Language. The whole of the New 
Testament has been translated, but only three 
books of the Old Testament. But even this por* 
tion has been tfcnslated almost in vain: for there 

no supply of books for the use of the peppje* 

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respecting the Ceylonese. 77 

I reflected with astonishment on the fact, that there 
are by computation 500,000 natives in Ceylon pro- 
fessing Christianity, and that there should not be 
one complete copy of the Holy Scriptures in the 
vernacular tongue; Samuel Tolfry, Esq. head 
of a civil department in Columbo, is a gocd Ciri- 
galese scholar, and is now^ engaged in compiling 
a Cingalese Dictionary. I proposed to him to un^ 
dertake the completion of the Cingalese Version; 
which is easily practicable, as there are many learn- 
ed Cingalese Christians in Columbo. He profess* 
ed himself ready to engage in the work, provided 
he should receive the sanction of the government* 

. I mentioned to him what had passed in my con- 
versation with General Maitland, and his Excel* 
Icncy's favorable sentiments on the subject; and 
added that a correspondence would beimme^. 
ately commenced with him from Calcutta con- 
cerning the work, and funds apportioned for the 
execution of it. Alexander Johnstone, Eso. who 
is now in Columbo, has furnished me with his 
sentiments on the best means of reviving and 

' maintaining the Protestant interest in Ceylon. 
Did his professionaiavocations permit, Mr. John- 
stone is himself the fit person to superintend the 

• translation .and printing of the Scriptiires. It is a 
proof of the interest which this gentleman takes 
in the progress of Christian ktiowledge, that he 
hath caused Bishop Portcus^s Evidences of Chris- 
tianity to be translated into the Cingalese tongtie, 
for distribution among the natives.*^ 



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76 Christian Remofr^i^ 



THE MALAYS. 

Anew empire has been added to Gr^ Britain in 
the East, which may be called her Malay Empire*. 
The extensive dominion ijf the Dutch in the Inr 
dian Ocean, is^ devolving upon the En^sb; and 
it may be expected that Britain will soon be mis- 
tress of the whole of the Malayan Arphipb- 
I.AGO* But as we increase our territories, we 
increase our obligations. Odr duties to our Hin- 
doo Empire have been long enough the subject 
of discussion: let us now turn our attention to 
the obligations which we owe to our Malay Em- 
pire. We are how about to take possession of 
i^nds, peopled by number* of Protestant Chris- 
tians. For in every island where the Dutch esk 
(ablished their government, they endeavored to 
convert the natives to Christianity, and they were, 
auccesfiiful. Those amongst us who would re-~ 
commend that the evangelization of barbarous 
nations shpuld be deferred **till a more conven- 
ient s^son,** will have no opportunity of offering 
the advice in regard to some of these islandi>; for^ 
behold, the natives are Christians already. Tliey 
profess the religion of the Bible. Let it be our 
endeavor then to <lo more justice to these our 
iiew Protestant subjects than we have done lo the 
Christians of Ceylon. Weha\e less excuse in 
the present instance, for the Malay ScriptuiH^s^ 
are ahea^y translated to ourbandsu What a nob- 
ble field here opens to the view of the ^'Society 
for promoting Christian Knowledge,'* and of the 
Bible Sofcicty! Here there is ample room for a 
praise- worthy emulationi and for thelitoftoi^ exjs^ 

^ - .. -Digitized by VjOOQIC 



regpedii^ the Mohys. 79 

^ise of their benevolent exertions. One hundred 
thousand Malay Bibles will not suffice to supply 
the Malay Christians. 

The Sacred Scriptures w^re translated by the 
Dutcb» into the Eastern Malays* for that is the 
^deral language of their extensive dominions in 
&e Indian Sea. But the Elastera Malay is dif- 
ferent from the Western M^y, or that of Suma- 
tra. In the College of Fort^WiUianii Thorny 
Jairret, Esq* of the Honorable Company's Civil 
Service^ was preparing a version of the Scriptures 
io th0 Western Malay; for which undectakmg he 
wa$ well qualified, having resided twelve years 
in Sumatra. When the progress of the Biblical 
translations was interrupted in the College, Mn 
ferret prosecuted the work, after his return \o 
Madras. He has bad, as an. assistant in the dQ- 
fiign, a leanied^^lay of the rank of Rajah in his 
own country, who came from Sumatra for the 
purpose. Mr* Jarret hs^ also m^de considerable 
progress in compiling a copious Malay Diction* 
ary, which he commenced before he left the isl- 
and. His labor, it is to be hoped, will not be 
lo^ to the public; for the Malay Language is 
daily increasing in its importance to the Britisjb 
nation. 

Prince of Wales' Island, or^ as it is called by 
the natives^ Penang, or.Pulo Penang, th^t.is, the 
island Penang, is the capital of our M^lay territo* 
icies, and is the proper place fai!the"cultivation of 
the Malay Language^ being situated, cjiq^ tQ thp 

* . / V^ . ■ *. - i, • 

* A complete veniom of the Malay Bibl^ vraf published in the 

Arabic character at BataVia, in 5 vols. Svo. iA 1^58, under the 

' direction^ of Jacob MotfteV Gorernor'^BiiMval o^-tb^ Putch iib»- 

» Digitized by CjOOgle 



80 Christian Besarchw 

main land of Malacca. As there is a College io 
Bengal for instructing the English in the lan- 
guages of the continent of Hindostan, it is equal- 
ly expedient that there should be an Institution 
in Penang for the cultivation of the Malay Tongue, 
and of the various dialects of our insular posses- 
sions. The Dutch attended t6 this object in the 
very infancy of their empire. Besides, it is probable 
that Penang will, in the progress^ of Eastern civ- 
ilization, become the great emporium of Asiatic 
Commerce. Its sudden elevation, is a prognos- 
tic of its future celebrky. It is situated oti 
what may be called, "the high way^" in uhich 
ships sail from either hemisphere; and is the very 
• centre of British navigation in the East. The 
Author resided on this island for about a month, 
-and was greatly surprised at the variety of lan- 
guages which are spoken, and at the different ra- 
ces of men who present themselves to view in* 
^his infant settlement. The merchants are chie%- 
' of the Malay, and Indo-Chinese nations. Jolm 
-Shaw, Esq. was prosecuting the study of the 
-Eastern Malay Language, when I visited the isl- 
Md, and has since published a considerable por* 
tion of a Malay Grammar. 

The author who chiefly claims our notice in 
Kgard to 4he Malay regions is J. C. Leyden, 
M. 6. Prcrfessor of Hindosta^ee in the College 
of Fort- William.' To him the learned world is 
indebted for "a Dissertation on the Langua^s, 
^md Literatiweof the Indo-Chinese Batipns^'^ }d^t 
published in the Asiatic Researches, in which he 
:Uluminates:a very dark subject, and opens a new 
view ta Qrjeat Bi^kaia of her insular, poi^sessions In 
Ask. Dr. Leyden Xskes the lead ia tl^ most4i«e^l 

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rfispecting ihe MtAc^. 81 

science, in the East, being possessed of very rare 
talents for general Philology, which he has appli- 
cd almost suddenly, andt/with admirable effect^ 
to the Oriental Languages. If this erudite scholar 
should, prosecute his researches for some years 
to coriie, with equal assiduity and success, he 
will promote, in the most effectual manner, the 
general civilization of the East by opening^thc 
way for the future exertions of Christian teachers, 
and preparing ^them for the study of languages,, 
the names of which are not yet known in Europe. 

Penang and the neighboring settlement of Mai* 
acca, are most favorable stations for the study of 
the various dialects 6f the Malay and Chinese 
Languages; and for pouring forth from the press 
iiseftjl works for the civilization of maritime and 
Austral Asia. Every week, boats of different 
nations are ready to carry off every thing that 
is printed to their respective regions. The Au- 
thor found htrt a general spirit of inquiry, a com- 
municative di^osition, and an unusual thirst for 
knowledge; for the civilities of commerce have a 
tendency to vireaken prejudice and superstition 
among barbarous tribes. 

AUhpugh the Dutch introduced Christianity 
on every island where they established a Govern- 
ment, yet the greater part of the Malay islands 
are involved in darkness. The natives are of 
riiree general casts, Pagans, Mahomedans, and 
Chinese. The Mahomedans chiefly inhabit th^ 
shpres, and the Pagans the interior parts of the 
islands. 'The barbarism of the interior natio^$ 
in Sumatra, Borneo, and other islands almW ex*, 
ceeds belief. Marsden, in his history of Suma- 
tra» had informed us that it was u^al with the 

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$8 Cfemfian Researches . 

natives of the interior, called the Batta tribes, to 
Icill and eat their criminals, and prisoners of war; 
but the researches of Dr. Leyden have ledto the 
discovery that they sometimes sacrifice their own 
relations. "They themselves declare,*' says he, 
"that they frequently eat their own relations whea 
aged and infirm: and that not so much to gratify 
their appetite, as to perform a pious ceremony. 
Thus, when a man becbmes infirm and weary o[ 
the world, he is said^to invite his own children td 
eat him in the season when salt and limes are 
cheapest. He then ascends a tree, round which 
his friends and offspring assemble, and as they 
shake the tree, join in a funeral dirge the import 
of which is, *Th*e season is come, the fruit iii ripe, 
and it must descend/ The victim descends, 
and those that are nearest and dearest to him de- 
prive him of Jife, and devour his remains in a sol* 
emn banquet."* 

Theae cannibals inhabit the interior of the isl- 
and of Sumatra, on the shore of which is the En- 
glish settlement, Bencoolen, or Fort- Marlborough. 
We have been settled there for a long period, 
and trade with the inhabitants for their spices. 
In return for the pepper which the natives giv^ 
lis, it would well become our character as a Ghris^ 
tian nation, were we nqjy at length, to offer them 
the JVexv Testament* 

Another dcscrii)tion of barbarians in the East^ 
em IsKs, are the /for^ra^, called by the Dulch^ 
the Alfores. They are to be found in almost all 
the larger islands. '*In their manners, says Dr. 
Leydon, the most singular feature is the necessity 

^AtiatU RetHurcheit voL x. p. 303* 

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respecting the Malays. 8d 

imposed on every person of, sometime in his 
life, imbruing his hands in human blood: and ia 
general, amo gall their tribes, no person is permit- 
ted to marry, Hill he can shew the skull of a man 
whom he has slaughtered. They eat the flesh of 
their enemies like the £attas, and drink out of 
their skulls; and the ornaments of their houses 
are human skulls and teeth."* When the Au- 
thor was at Pulo Penang, he himself saw a Chief 
of the Malay tribe who had a staff, on the hc^d 
of which was a bushy lock of human hair; which 
he said he had ciit from the head of his enemy 
whom he had killed. 

The Author has mentioned the foregoing cir- 
cumstances to shew what Paganism is in its na- 
tural state, and to awaken some desire of civiliz- 
ing a people, who are now so accessible to us. 
Some Philosophers of the school of Voltaire and 
Gibbon, have been extravagant in their eulogiuni 
of man in a staCe of nature, or in some other 
state DEVOID of Christianity, and it is to be 
* lamented that 3ome Christian writers have tried 
gf late to draw the same picture. But Pagan- 
ism in its best estate, is well described by one 
line of the Poet: 

Monsttum^ horrenduni, infonne, ingens cut lumen ademptum. 

ViRcr. 

No quarter of the globe promises to be more 
auspicious to Christian Missions than the Ma- 
layan Archipelago, In regard to the probable 
success of ouff endeavors, the Dutch have already 
shewn xuhat is practicable. The natives are of dif- 

^Miatie^ Researches, vol., x. p. 217. 

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S4 iJhristian Reaearches 

ferent casts^ and ^e a divided people. The com- 
munication is easy from island to islaiid; our own 
ships are continually plying oa their shores. The 
China fleets pass through twice or oftener every 
year; and with most of the islands we have inter- 
course by what is called in India, the countiy 
trarfe. And now there will be, of course, an 
English Government established in each of the 
conquered islands in lieu of the Dutch. 

The Mahomedans found it easy to translate the 
Koran into the languages of Java^ and of the 
Celebes; but the Sacred Scriptures are not yet 
translated into either of these languages. The 

S roper language of Java is different from the 
lalay of the city of Batavia, The language ^3f 
the Celebes is called the Bugis, or Bouguese.* 
The natives of Celebes are distinguished for 
their vigor of mind and strength pf body; and 
are acknowledged to be the first of , the Orang 
Timor^ or Eastern men. ' Literature was former- 
ly cultivated among them. Dr. Leyden enumer- 
ates fifty-three different volumes. "Their songs,*' 
says he;, "and romances are famous among all the 
islands of the East.'* Their language extends fo 
other islands; for they formerly carried their con- 
quests beycH)d the Moluccas* The man whp 
shall first translate the Bible into the language o\ 
the Celebes, will probably be read by as mwy 
islanders as have read the translation ot Wick- 
liffe. Let us consider how Ipnig these nations 
have waited for Christian instruction, and coil* 

-> • 

*LordMinto notices in bis Speech to the College of Fort- 
William, that Thos. Raffles, Esq. Secretary to the Government 
in Prince of Wales' Island, is employed in compiling a code of 
Malay L«iw8» in the Malay and Mouguut Languagef. 

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respecting the Malays. 85 

template the words of the prophecy, **The isles 
shpU wait for HIS law,'' Isa* xlii, 4. 

The facilities for civilizing the Malayan isles 
are certainly very great; and these facilities are 
our strongest encouragement to make riie at- 
tempt. Both in our translation of the Scrip- 
tures and in missions to the heathen, we should 
>ivoid as much as possible what may be called 
enterprise. Let us follow the path that is easy 
and secure, and make use of those means which are 
already afibrded us by Providence. Thus the most 
vahiable and important translation of the Scriptures 
in the present circumstaiices, will be that for 
which a people are alreadt prepared, such as 
the Malayalim, the Cingalese, and Malay. And 
the most judiciously planned Missions wiU be 
those where there is a prospect of personal secur- 
ity to the teachers; and where there arc, judging 
from human probabilities, the greatest facilities 
for the conversion of the people^ 



THE SYRIAN CHRISTIANS IN INDIA. 

The Syrian Christians inhabit the interior of 
-Travancore and Mdabar, in the South of Indian 
and have been settled there from the early ages 
<i£ Christianity. The first notices of this ancient 

?eople in recent times are to be found in the 
Portuguese histories. When Vasco de Gama 
arrived at Cochin on the coast of Mabbar, in 
the year 1503,* he saw the sceptre of the Chris- 
tian King; for the &j rian Christians had formerly 
8 



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86 Christian Researches 

regal power in Malay-ala,* The name or title 
of their last King was Beliarte; and he dying 
without issue, the dominion devolved on the 
King of Cochin and Diamper, . , 

When the Portuguese arrived, they were 
agreeably surprised to find upwards of a hun- 
dred Christian Churches on the coast of Mala- 
bar. But when they became acquainted with 
the purity and simplicity of their worsrhip, tjiey 
were offended* **These Churches,'* said the 
Portuguese, "belong to the Pope." "Who' is 
the Pope," said the natives, "!ve never heard of 
him." The European priests were yet more 
alarmed, wl^en they found that these Hindoo 
^ Christians maintained the order and discipline of 
a regular Church under Episcqial Jurisdiction; 
and that, for 1300 years past, they had enjoyed a 
succession of Bishops appointed by the Patriarch 
of Antioch. "We," said they, "are of the true 
faith, whatever you from the West may be; for 
we come from the place where the followers of 
Christ were first called Christians." , 

When the power of the Portuguese .became 
sufficient for their purpose, they invaded these 
tranquil Churches, seized some of the Clergy, 
apd devoted theni to the death of heretics. Theft 
Ae inhabitants heard for the first time that-there 
was a place called the Inquisition; and that Us 
fires had been lately lighted at Goa, near their 
own land; But the Portuguese, finding that the 

• Malay -aU is the proper name for the whole country of Tra- 
vaticore and Malabar, comprehending the tefritory betw<;en the 
mountains and the «ea, from Cape Comorin to Cape lUi or Dilly. 
The language of these extensive regions is called Malayalim, and 
,L^^I»Tnetime8 Maiabai . We shall usfe the word MaMar,. ks he- 
'■™'^ --^easier prouunciauon. , -.. 

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respecting the Syrians. 87 

people were resolute in defending their ancient 
iaith, began to try more conciliatory measiures. 
They seized the Syrian Bishop Mar Joseph, and 
sent him prisoner to Lisbon: and then convened 
a iSynod at one of the Syrian Churches called Pi- 
am per, near Cochin, at which the Romish Arch- 
bishop Menezes presided. At this compulsory 
Synod, 150 of the Syrian Clergy appeared. They 
were accused of the following practices afid opin-^ 
ions: **That they had married wives; that they 
owned but two Sacraments, Baptism and the 
Lord's Supper; that they neither invoked Saints, 
iior worshipped Images, nor believed iil^Purgato- 
ry: and that they had no other orders or names of 
dignity in the Church,than Bishop,Pfiest,and Dea- 
con." These tenets they were called on to abjure, 
or to suffer suspension from a]l Church benefices. 
It was also decreed that all the Syrian books on 
Ecclesiastical subjects that could be found, should 
be burned; *'In order," said the Inquisitors, that 
no pretended apostolical monuments may remain.'* 

The churches on the sea-coast were thus com- 
pelled to acknowledge the supremacy of the Pope: 
but the5' refused to pray in Latiil, and insisted on 
retaining their own language and Liturgy. This 
point they *said they would only give up with 
their lives. The Pope compromised with them: 
Menezes purged their Liturgy of its errors: and 
they retain.tlieir Syriac Language, and haveaSy- 
riac College unto this day. Tliese are called the 
Syro-Roman Churches, and are principally situa- 
ted on the sea-coast. 

Tke Churches in the interior would not yield 
to Rome. After a show o^ submission for a lit- 
tle while, they proclaimed eternaf war against I 



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88 Christian Ttesedrche^ 

. Inquisition; they hid their books, fled occasiojn*' 
ally to the mountains, and sought the protection 
of the Native Princes, who had always been pn^d 
of their alliance. 

Two centuries had elapsed without any partic 
ular information concerning the Syrian Christians 
Ui the interior df India. It was doubted by ma. 
ny whether they existed at all; but if they did 
exist, it was thought probable that they tnustpos- 
sess some interesting documents of Christian an- 
tiquity. The Author conceived the design of 
visiting them, if practicable, in his tour through 
Hindostan. He presented a short memoir on the 
subject in 1805, to Marquis VV'ellesley, then Gov- 
ernor General of India, wlio was pleased to give or- 
ders that every facility should be afforded to him 
in the prosecution of his inquiries. About a ye^ 
after that Nobleman had left Ipdia, the Author pro» 
eeededon his Tdlir. it was necessary that he should 
visit first the Court of the Rajah of Travancore, in 
whose dominions the Syrian Christians resided^ 
that he might obtain permission to pass to their 
Gountrj'. The two chief objects which he pro- 
posed to himself in exploring the state ofthis an- 
cient people, were these: First, to investigate 
their literature and history, and to collect Biblical 
manuscripts. Secondly, if_^ he should find them 
to be an intelligent peopie,and well acquainted with 
the Syriac Scriptures, to endeavor to nVake them 
instruments of illuminating the Southern part of 
India by eng«iging them in translating their Scrip- 
tures into the Native Languages. He had reason 
to believe that this had not yet been done; and he 
was prepared not to wonder at the delay, by the 

.^fUgfection how long it was before his owo coun* 

■ • Digitized by VjOOQIC 



respecting pie Syrians. 89 

txymen began to think it their duty to make ver^ 
sion« of th^ Scriptures, for the use of other na^ 
'tioiis. 

^'Pa/ace of Travaneore, 19th Oct. 1806. 
*'I have iiQw been a week at tlie Palace of 
Trivanduram, where the Rajah resides. A let-* 
tei* of introduction from Lieut. Colonel Macau- 
lay, the British Resident at Travancore, procur- 
ed me a proper reception. At my first audience 
His Highness was very inquisitive as to the oh- 
jects of my journey. As I nad servc'^nts with me 
of different casts and languages, it was very easy ^ 
for the Brahmins to discover every particular 
they might wish to know, in regard to my pro^ 
fession, pursuits, and maimer of life. When I 
told the Rajah that the Syrian Christians were 
supposed to be of the same religion with tlje 
English, he said he thought that could not be 
the case, else he must have heard it before; if 
however it was so, he considered my desire to 
visit them as being very reasonable. I assured 
Hjs Highness that their Shaster and ours was tjjc 
same; and shewed him a Syriac New Testament 
which I had at hand. The book being bound 
and gilt after the European manner, the Rajah 
shook his head, and s^id he was sure there was 
not a native in-liis dominions who could read that 
book. I observed that this would be proved in 
a few days. The De wan (or Prime Minister )i 
thought the character something like what he 
had seen sometimes in the houses of the' Soorianu 
Tlie S^juh said he would afford me every facility 
for my journey in his power. He put an eme- 
rald ring on my finger, as a mark of his frien 
♦8 



F his frirntJMMJL 
dbyGoogfe^r 



90 Christmn tteseutche& 

ship, and to secure me respect in passing through 
his country; and he directed his Dewan to send' 
proper persons with me as guides. 

"I requested that the Rajah would be pleased 
to present a Catalogue of all the Hindoo Manu-. 
scripts in the Temples of Travancore to the Col- 
lege of Fort- William in Bengal. The Brah. 
mins were very averse to this; but when I shew- 
ed the Rajah the catalogues of the books in the 
Temples of Tanjore, given by the Rajah of Tan- 
jore, and those of the Temple of Remisseram, 
given m6 by order of thcrRannie (or Queen) of 
Ramnad; he desired it might be done: and or- 
ders have been sent the Hindoo College of Tri- 
ehoor for that purpose,"* 

^^Chinganoor; a Church of the Syrian 
Christians J Mv. lOth, 1806. 
"From the palace of Travancore I proceeded 
to Mavely-car^ and thence to the hills at the bot- 
tom of the high Ghauts Xvhich divide the Cdrna-> 
tic from Malay-iria. The face of the country itr 
general in the vicinity of the mountains, exhibits 
a varied scene of hill and dale, and winding 
streams. These streams fall from the moun- 
tains, and preserve the vallies in perpetual ver- 
dure. The woods produce pepper, carda- 
moms, and cassia, oi* common cinnamon; also- 
frankincense and other aromatic giims. What 
adds much to the grandeur of the scenery in tbi$ 
country is, that the adjacent mountains of Trav-* 

•These three Catalogues, together with that of thd'iligah of 
Cochin, which the Author procured afterwards, aie now depos* 
• ited in the College of Fori Wdiiam, and probably coutakx idl the 
rf^;lttndoo Uteratureol the Sbuth of India. ,. . 

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resfec^mg the Syrians. ^ 91 

ancore are not barren^ but are covered witfj for- 
ests of teak wood; the Indian oak, producing, it 
is said, the largest timber in the^. world. 

"The first yfew of the Christian Churches in 
this sequestered region of Hindostan, connected 
with the idea of their tranquil duration for so 
many ages, cannot fail to excite pleasing emo- 
tions in the ipiind of the beholder. The form of 
the eldest buildings is not unlike that of some of 
the old Parish Churches in England; the style x>f 
building in both being of Saracenic origin. They 
have sloping roofs, pointed arch windows, and 
buttresses supporting the "walls. The beanis of 
the roof being exposed to view are ornamented; 
and the (5eiUng of the choir and altar is Vircular 
and fretted. In the Cathedral Churches, the 
shrines of the deceased bishops are placed on 
each side of the altar. Most of the -Churches 
ar^ built of a reddish stone squared and polished 
at the quarry; and are of durable construction, 
the front, wall of the largest edifices being six 
feet thick. The bells of the Churches are cast 
in the founderies of the country: some of them 
are of tege dimensions^ and have inscriptions in 
Syriac and Malay-alim. In approaching a town 
in the evening, I once heard the sound of the 
bells among the hills; a circumstance which 
made me forget for a moment that I was in Hin- 
dostan, and reminded me of another country. 

"The first Syrian Church which I saw was at 
Mavely-car: but the Syrians here are in the vicin- 
ity of the Romish Christians; and are not sO sim- 
ple in^jfdfeir manners as those nearer the moun- 
tains. They had been often visited by Romish 
emissaries in former tinies; and they at first su^ 






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92 Chris(mn Mese^Erck^ 

pccted that I belon^d to that cornmunion. -Tliey: 
had heard of the English, but strangely supposed 
that they belongttd to the Qhurch of the Poj^e m, 
ihe West. They had been so little accustomed 
to see a friend, that they could not believe that 
I was come with any friendly purpose* Added to 
this, I had some discussions with a most intel- 
ligent priest, in regard to the original language 
of the Four Gospels^ which he maintained to be 
Syriac; and they suspected fro|[n the complexion 
o{ my argument, that I wished to weaken the 
evidences for their antiquity.* Soon liowever 

•"You concede," said the Syrian, "that our Savior spoke in 
our language; how do you know ii?*' From Syriac expressions 
in the GreetGospels- It appears that hetpoke Syriac when he* 
-walkedby the way (Ephphath^,-) *»d when he sat in the house 
(Talitha Cumi,) and when he was upon the cross (EUi, Eli, lama 
sabachthani.) The Syrians were pleased when they heard Uiai 
we had got their^language in our Cngltsh booka. The priest ob- 
served that these last were not the exact words, but * Ail, Ail, 
iamoho sabachthani.' I answered that the word must have beeir 
very like Mii, for one said, '^fle caUeth for Elmt.** "True, said- 
he, but yet it was more likely .to be JiV, Ail (pronounced Uop 
Eel) for ffil or Hila, is old' Syriac foV Vinegar; and one thocght 
lie wanted Vinegar, and filled immediately a sponge wifh it. But.' 
oar Savior did not want the medicated drink as th^y supposed. 
But, added he, if the parables and discourses of our Lord were 
in S}Tiac, and the people of Jerusalem Commonly used it, is it not 
nmrvellous that his Disciples did not I'ccord his parables in \\m 
Syriac Language; jmd that they sliould have recourse to the 
Greek?" I observed that the Gospel was for the world, and the* 
Greek was then the universal language, and therefore Providenc*- 
selected it. "It is very probable, said he, that the Gospels were 
translated immediately afterwards into Greek, as.into other lan- 
guages; but surely there must have been a Syriac originaL The 
poor people in Jci'usalem could not read dreek. Had they no re-^ 
cord m their haiids of Christ's parables which they harf heard^ - 
and of his ^ublimd discourses recorded by St, /ohHf after his as- 
cension?" I acknowledged that it was generally believed by the 
learned that the Gospel of St. Matthew was written^ originally 
in Syriac. "So you admk St. Matthew? You may as\f^ admit 
S*. Joim. Or was one Gospel enpugh'for the inhabilants of Jeru- 
saiem?" I contended that there wer^^ many Greek and Roi^mui 



dbyGoogk 



rmpecting ffte Syrimn$. 93 

the gloom and suspicion subsided; they gave 
mc the right hand of fellowship, in the primitive 
manner; and one of their number was deputed 
to accompany me to the Churches in the in- 
terior. . 
"When we were approaching the Church of 
Cbinganbor, we met one of the Cassanars, or Sy- 
rian Clergy, He was dressed in a white loose 
vestment with a cap of red silk hanging down 
behind. Being informed who he was, L said 
to him in the Syriac Language, 'Peace be unto 
you-' He was surprised at the salutation; but 
immediately answered, *The God of peace be 
with you.' He accosted the Rajah's servants^ in 
the language of the country Jo know who I was; 
and immediately returned to the village to an- 
noimce our approach. When we arrived I was 
received at the door of the Church by three ITas- 
heeshas, that is, Presbyters, or Priests, who were 
habited in like manner, in white vestments. 
Their names were Jesu, Z^charias, and Urias, 
which they wrote down in my Journal, each of 
them adding to his name tlje title of Kasheesha* 
There were also present two Shumshanas, or 
Deacons. The elder Priest was a very intel- 
ligent man, of reverend appearance, having a 
long white beard, and of an affable and engaging 
deportment. The thr6e principal Christians, or 
lay elders belonging to the Church, were named 
Abraham, Tlioma,and Alexandros. After some 
conversation with my attendants they received 

words in^Uieir own Syriac Gospels. "True," said he, "Romaa 
words for Roman things." They wished however to see some of 
Ih^se words. The discussion afterwards, particularly in refer* 
encc to the Gospel of Sti Luke, was more in ray favor. 



dbyGoogk 



94 Christian Mesearches 

me with confidence and affection; and the people of 
the neighboring villages came round, women as 
well as men. The sight of ihe women assured 
me that I wa^ once more (after a long absence from 
England) in a Christian country. For the Hin- 
doo women, «nd the Mahomedan women, and in 
short, ^11 women who are not Christians ar^ ac- 
counted by the men an inferior race; and, in 
general, are confined to the house for life, like 
irrational creatures. In every countenance now 
before me I tliought I could discover the hitclH- 
gcnce of Christianity, But at the same time, I 
perceived, all around, symptoms of poverty and 
political depressions- In the Churches, and in 
the people, there was the air of fallen greatness. 
I said to the senior Priest, *You appear to me 
like a people who have known better days.' *It 
is even so,' said he. *We are in a degenerate 
state compared with our forefathers.' He no- 
ticed that there were two causes of their present 
decay. *Aboirt 300 years ago an enemy came 
from the West bearing the name of Christ, but 
armed with the Irfejui^ition, and compelled us to 
seek the protection of the native Princes. And 
the native Princes have kept us in a state of de- 
pression ever since. They indeed recognize our 
ancient personal privileges, for v/e rank in gen- 
eral next to the Nairs, the nobility of the couh- 
try; but they have encroached by degrees on our 
property, till we have been reduced to ihe hum- 
ble state in which you find us. The glory of 
our CKurch has passed away; but we hope your' 
nation will revive it again.' I observed that ^the 
glory of a Church could never die, if it prt^sen^ed 
the Bible.' ^We have preserved the Bible,* ^^ict 

^ • ' Digitized by VjOOQIC 



respecting the Syriatis. §5 

he; Uhe Hmdoo Princes never touched our lib* 
erty of conscience* We were fornnerly on % foot- 
ing with them in political power; and they res- 
pect oiir religion. We have also converts from 
time to time; but, in this Christian duty we are 
not so active as we once were; besides it is not 
so creditable now to become Christian, in our 
low estate.' He then pointed but to me a Nam- 
boory Brahmin, (that is, a Brahmin of the high- 
est cast) who had lately become a Christian, and 
assumed the White vestment of a Syrian Priest. 
'The learning too of the Bible,' he added, *is in a 
low state amongst us. Oar copies are few in 
number; and that number is dimmishing instead 
of increasing; and the writing put a whole copy 
of the Sacred ' Scriptures is a great labor, where 
there is no J^rofit and little piety.' I then pro- 
duced a printed copy of the Syriac New Testa- 
ment. There was not one of them who had ever 
seen a printed copy before. They admired it 
much; and every Priest, as it came into his 
hands, began to read a portion, which he did flu- 
ently, while the women came round to hear. I 
asked the old Priest whether I should send them 
some copies from Europe; ^They would be 
be wortiv their weight in silver,' said he. H^ 
asked me whether the Old Testament vvas print* 
ed in Syriac, as well as the New. I told him it 
was, but I had not a copy. They professed an 
earnest desire to obtain some copies of the whole 
Syriac Bible; and asked whether it woold be 
practicable to obtain one copy for every Church* 
*I must confess to you,' said Zecharias, *that.we* 
have very few copies of the Prophetical Scrip. 
tUres in the Church. Our Church languishes 

"^ \ "Digitized by CjOOgle 



^6 Cluistian UeHOtc^ 

for want of the Scriptures.'. B^t he added» *Ac 
language that is mc^t ia use ani^ong the pec^le 
is the Malayalim, (or Malabar) the vernacular 
language of the country. The Syriac is -now 
only the learned langijage, and the language of 
the Churph: but we generally expound the Scrip- 
tures to the people in the vernacular tongue.' 

*I then entered on the subject of the transla- 
tion of the Scriptures. He said *a version could 
be made with critical accuracy; for there were 
many of the Syrian Clergy who were perfect 
masters of both languages, having spoken them 
from their infancy. But,' said he, *our Bishop 
will rejoice to see you, and to discourse with you 
on this and other subjects.' I told them that if 
a translation could be prepared, I should be able 
to get it printed, ajid to distribute 'copies among 
their fifty-five Churches at a small price. ^That 
indeed would give joy,' said old Abraham. There 
was here a murmur of satisfaction among the peo- 
ple. If I understand you right, said I, the greatest 
blessing the English Church can bestow upon 
you, is the Bible, *It is so,' said he. *And what 
is the next greatest,' said I. *Some freedon^ and 
personal consequence as a people.' By whkh 
he meant political liberty. *We are here in bond* 
^e, like Israel in Egypt.' I observed that the 
English nation would doubtless recognize a na- 
tion of fellow. Christians; and would be happy to 
interest itself in their behalf, ^s far as our polit- 
ical relation with the Prince of the country woidd 
permit. They wished to know what were Ae 
principles of the: English Government, civil i^Eid 
religious. I answered that our Gavemoient 
niight, be said to be founded generally on the 

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fespeeting ihe Syrians. W , 

jirinciples of the Bible. *Ah,' siiid old Zecharias, * 
Hhat must be a glorious Govenunexit which is 
founded 00 the primnples of the Bible.' The 
Priests then desired I would give them some ac- 
'couiu of the History of the English nation, and 
of our ^^.ession from their enemy the Church 
of Rome. And in return, I requested they would 
give me some account of their History. My 
communications with the Syrians are rendertd 
very easy, by means of an Interpreter whom I 
brought with me all the way from the Tan- 
jore country. He is a Hindoo by descent, 
but is ^n inteJligent Christian, and was a pupil 
and catechist of the la^e Mr. Swartz, The 
Rev. Mr. Kohloff recommended him to me* 
He formerly lived in Travancore, and is weU 
acquainted with the vernacular tongue. He also 
reads and writes English Vejy well, and is as 
much interested in favor of 'tlie Syrian Chria- 
tisiis as I myself. Besides Mr. Swartz's cat^* 
chist, there are two natives of Travancore* liere,; 
who speak the Hindostanee Language, which is 
familiar to me. My knowledge of the Syriac is 
sufficient to refer to texts of Scripture; but I do , 
not well understand the pronunciation of the Sy- 
rians. I hope to be better acquainted with their 
language before I leave the country. -^ 

^'fianniel, a Syrian Church, JVov. 12tAy 1806* 
**This Church is buih upon a rocky hill on the . 
banks of the river; and is the most remote of 
aU the Churches in this quarten ' The two JSms^ 
heeshas here are Lucas and Mattai (Luke and 
Matthew*) The chief Lay members are AbiOr 
9 

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9S Chrtstimi Mestardh» 

3iam, Georgius, Thoma, and Riilippus. Some 
of the Priests accompany me from Church to 
Church. I have now visited eight Churches, 
and scarcely believe sometimes that I am in the 
land of the Hindoos; only that I now and theft 
see a Hindoo temple on the banks of the riven 
I observed that the bells of most of the Churches 
are witWn the building, and not in a tower. The . 
reason they said was this. When a Hindoo 
temple happens to be near a Church, the Hin- 
doos do not like the bell to sound loud, for they 
say it frightens their God. I perceive that the 
Syrian Christians assimilate much to the Hindoos 
in the practice of frequent ablutions for health 
and cleanliness, and in the use of vegetables and 
l%ht food. 

"I attended divine service on" the Sunday. 
Their Liturgy is that which was formerly used 
in the# Churches of the Patriarch of Antioch. 
During die prayers, there were intervals of 
silence: the Priest praying in a low voice, and 
every tiiah praying for himself. These siteftt m-^ 
t^rvials add much to the solemnity and appear- 
aiice df devotion. They use incense in the 
Churches, it grows in the woods around them; 
artd contributes much, they say, to health, -and to 
the warmth and comfort of the Church, during* 
the cold and rainy season of the year. At the 
c«iick?si6fl<tfj^ service, a ceremony takes nla^e 
Which |)lieased me iBuch. The Priest (or iBish- 
cp, if l4 fe^ present) comes forward, and all ttte 
people pass by him as they go out, receivings his 
benedict ion imlividusdly. If Miy man has oeeii^ 
guvtty of a«y imfQorality, he does^ not reb^sive the 

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nspeding the $ifrian^. 99 

hh^ming; and ti^s^ in th^ir primitive and patri^ 
arcbat state, is accounted a severe punishment* 
Instruction by preaching is little in use among 
them now* Many of the old men lamented the 
dec^. of inety, and religious knowledge; and 
spoke with pleasure of the record of ancient times. 
They have some ceremonies nearly allied to those 
of the Greek Church. Here, as in all Churches 
in a state of decline, there is too much formality 
in the worship. But they have the Bible and a 
scriptural Liturgy; and these will save a Church 
in the worst of^imes. These may" preserve the 
€|>ark and life of religion, though the name be out* 
And as there were but few copies of the Bible 
among the Syrians (for every copy was transcribe 
ed with the pen) it is highly probable that, if they 
hftd not enjoyed the advantage of the daily prayers, 
and daily porticos of Scripture in their Liturgy, 
there Wiould have been in tlie revolution of ages, 
no vestige of Christianity left among them,* 

"The doctrines <rf the Syrian Christians are 
few in number, but pure, and agree in essential 
points with those of the Church of England: so 

•in a nation like ours, overflowing" with knowledge, men are^ . 
n<5t always in circumstances to perceive the value of a scriptural 
Liturgy. When Christians are well taught, they think they 
want someth'mg better. But the young and the ignoianl, who 
form a great proportion of the community, 'are edified by a'liltl^ 
plain instruction frequently repeated^ A small Church or Sect 
njay do without a form for awhile. But a national Liturgy is 
that which preserves a relic of the true faith among the peopfe 
in a large Empire, when the Priests leave their articles and 
their CONCESSIONS of faith. Woe to the declining Church 
which hath no Gospel Liturgy! Witness the Presbyterians in 
the West of England, and some other sects, wlio are said to have 
Itfioome Arians and Sodnians to a man.* The Puritans of a for- 
meirage did nfit live long enough to see the use of an ev^ngelici)!^ 
Form.ulary» 

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100 Christian ltesedreh» 

that, although the body of the Church appears to 
be ignorant, and formal, and d«ad, there are in« 
dividuals who are alive to righteousness, ivho are 
distinguished from the rest by their purity ot Bfe, 
and are sometimes censured for too rigid a piety* 
In every Church, and in many of the private 
houses, there are manuscripts in the Syriac Lan- 
guage: and I have been successful in procuring 
some old and valuable copies of the Scriptures 
and other books, written in different ages and in 
different characters," 

^^Cande-nady a Church of the Syrian Christians^ 

November 23, 1806. 
**Thisis the residence of '^ar Dionysius, the 
Metropolitan of the Syrian Church. A great 
number of the Priests from the other Churches 
had assembled by desire of the Bishop, before 
my arrival. The Bishop resides in a builditig 
attached to the Church. I was much struck with 
his first appearance. He was dressed in a vest- 
ment of dark red silk; a large golden cross hung 
from his neck, and his venerable beard reached 
below his girdle. Such, thought I, was Ihe ap- 
pearance of Chrysostom in the fourth century. 
On public occasions, he wears the £piscopal 
mitre, and a muslin robe is thrown over his un* 
der garment; and in his hand he bears the crosier, . 
or pastoral staff. He is a man of highly respec-. 
table character in his Church, eminent for his 
piety, and for the attention he devotes to his 
sacred functions. I found him to be far superior 
in general learning to any of his clergy whom I 
had J et seen. He told me that all my conversa- 
tions with his Priests since my arrival in the 

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^ouotjry had been communicated to him* '^You 
have come>" &aid he, ^to visit a declining Church, 
, and I am now an old man: but the hopes of its 
wemg better days cheer my old age, though I 
may not live to see them." I submitted to the 
Bh^P my wishes in regard to the translation and 
printiiig of the Holy Scriptures. "I have already 
fuUy considered the subject," said he, "and have 
determined to superintend the work myself, and 
to csAl the most learned of my clergy to my aid. 
It is a work whic]^ will illuminate these dark 
regions, Md God will give it his blessing." I 
was much pleased when I heard this pious reso- 
lution of the venerable man; for I had now ascer- 
tained that there are upwards of 200,000 Chris- 
tians in the south of India, besides the Syrians 
who speak the Malabar Language. Tjje next 
subject of importance in my mind, was the col* 
lection of useful manuscripts in the Chaldaic and 
Syriac Languages; and the Bishop was pleased 
to say that 1^ would assist my inquiries and add 
to my collection. He descanted with great satis- 
faction on the hope of seeing printed Syriac 
Bibjf s from England; and said they would be 
*'a treasure to his Church." 

^^Cande-nadj 24tk November^ 1806. 
"Since my coming amongst this people, I had 
eherished the hope that tliey might be one day 
united with the Church of England. When I 
reflected on the imAiense power of the Romish 
Church in India, and jon our inability to witlv 
stand its influence, alone, 4t appeared to be an 
object of great consequence to secure the aid and 
<^o-operation et the 8ynaa-Churob> and Uie sanc^ 

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102 Chriafyin Besmrch^ 

tion df itsr antiquity in the East. I thougbt k . 
might be serviceable, at least, to lay such a foun- 
dation by the discussion of die subject, as our 
Church might act upon hereafter, if she should 
think it expedient. I was afraid to mention the 
subject to the Bishop at our first interview; but 
he himself intinuited that he would be glad F 
would communicate freely upon it with, two of 
his clergy. I. had hitherto observed soinewhat 
of a reserve in those with whom I i)ad conversed 
on this matter: and now the cause was explained. 
The Bishop's chaplains confessed to me that they 
had doubts' as to the purity of English Ordina* 
tion. "The English," said they, "may be a war- 
like and great peojde; but their Church*, by your 
own account, is but of recent origin. Whence 
do you derive your Ordination?'^ 'From Rome. 
"You derive it from a Church which is our Jin- 
cient enemy, and with which w^ would never 
unite.'' They acknowledged that therfe might 
be salvation in every Church where "the nanie 
of Christ was named;" but in the question of an 
i/NioN, it was to be considered that they had 
existed a pure Church of Christ from the e^est 
ages; that if there was such a thing in the world 
as Ordination by the laying on of hands, in sue- 
cession from the Apostles, it was probable that 
they possessed it; that there was no recprd of 
history or tradition to impeach tlieir claim. I 
observed that there was reason to believe that 
Ae same Ordination had descended from the 
Apostles to the Church of Rome. "It might be 
so: but that Church had departed from the feith." 
I answered that the impurity dT the channd had 
not CQcrui^ed theordinaooe itself^ or invaUdated 

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re9pectk^ the Syrmm. 103 

the kgitimacy of the imposition of bands; any 
more than the wickedness of a High Priest in 
Israel could disqualify . his successors. The 
Church of England assumed that she derived 
Apostcdical Ordination through the Church of 
Rome, as she might have derived it through the 
Church of Ahtioch, I did not consider that the 
Church of England was entitled to reckon her 
Ordination to be higher or more sacred than that 
of the Syrian Church. This was the point upon 
which they wished me to be explicit. They ex- 
pected that in any official negotiation on this 
subject, the antiquity and purity of Syrian Ordi- 
natiQn should be expressly admitted. 

"Our conversation was reported to the Bishop. 
He wished me to state the advantages of an Union. 
One advantage wouldt>e, I observed, that English 
Clergymen, or rather Missionaries ordained by the 
Church of England, might be permitted her^ter 
to pr^ch in the numerous Churches pf the Syrians 
in India,, and aid them in the promulgation of 
pure religion, against the preponderating and in- 
creasing influence of the Romish Church; And 
again, dW Ordination by the Syrian Bishop might 

Qualify &r preaching in the English Churches in 
ndia; for we had an immense Empire in Hindos- 
tan, but few preachers: ahdof thesefew scarcely any, 
could Preach in the native languages. The Bish- 
op said, ^^I would sacrifice much for such ant 
Union; only let me not be called to compromise 
any thing of the dignity and purity of our Church.' ' 
I told him, we did not wish to degrade, we would 
rather protect and defend it. AH must confess that 
it was Chffist's Church in the midst of a heatheH 
land. The Church of England would be h^ppy 

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to proiiuile Its wdy^H^, to revive ks efMt^ «b4j#o 
use it as an inalrumet^of future good in the nvkkt 
of her own Empire. I took this occasioii to ^- 
serve that there were some rites and practices in 
the Syrian Church, which our Church tniglit con- 
sider db^otionaUe or nugati»y. The Bishop 4xni- 
fessed that some €»st€»ns ha^l been iBtroduo^ 
during their decline in thelattar centuries, wh^h 
had no necessary connexion widitheconstilulion 
of the Chm-ch, and might be removed withoat ki- 
convenience. He asked whether I had authority 
from my own Church to make any proposition to 
him. I answered that I had not: that my own 
Church scarcely knew that the Syrian- Church ^k- 
isted: but I could anticipate the wishes and pi:u-- 
poses of good men. He thought it strange tliat 
there was no Bishopvin India to superintend so 
large an Empire; and said he did not perfecily 
. comprehend our ecclesiastical principles. I toid 
him that we had sent Bishq>s to other countri^; 
but that our Indian Empire was yet in its infancy. 
Next day, the Bishop, after conferring with bis 
clergy on the subject, returned an answer in writ- 
ing to the following eflfect; '*That an un^on with 
the English Church, or, at least, such a connei£ton 
as shoukl appear to both Churcheapracticable and 
expedient, would be a happy event and favorable 
to the advancement of Religion in India." In 
making this communication, he used his official 
dei^^ation, "Mar Dionysius, Metrop^itan of 
Malabar.*' I asked the Bishop if he would p^- 
mit two of the young Cassanars to go to England 
to finish their aducaticm, and then retur^i to India. 
He said he should be very happy to gJl^ehis i>er- 
itti&$i<H)| if any tfhouldi>€ibiimdwho wer^ wiUiu^ ^ 

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fi&^jiHti^ the 6yrim». 105 

>to g«, I have accordingly made the cikr to two 
*''y*ouths of good abilities, who are well skilled in 
the Syriac Language.*' 

^^Cande-nadr^Sth Ncft>. 
**The Bishop was desirous to know something 
i*ef the other Churches which had separated from 
Rome. I M*as ashamed to tell him how many 
they were. I mentioned that there was a Aiw« 
heesha or Presbyter Church in our own kingdom, 
in which every Kasheesha was equal to another. 
**Are there no Shumshanas?^^ (Deacons in hdy or- 
ders.) None. "And what, is there nobody to 
overlook the Kasheeshas?'' Not one. "There 
must be something imperfect there," said he.* 
ITiis led to the mention of the different sects* 
Those which most interested him were the Qua- 
kers and Baptists. He said it was an imposing idea 
to wash the body with water, to begin a new Hfe. 
He asked whether they were baptized again every 
time they relapsed into sin and known apostasy. 
'♦*Are there good men among these sects?" Ex- 
cellent men almost in all. "I see it is with you 
as it was in the first ages; new sects were produ- 
ced by true piety, but it was piety founded on igno- 
rance. But do not good men in these sects relax 
a little when they grow old?" Yes, they speak in 

♦ It U pi-oper to state for the satisfaction of thoste who may dif- 
fer in opinion with the venerable Bishop, that in the Syr.ac trans- 
lation of the New Testament there is no proper word fop Bishop 
other than Kaiheeska, The words Kasheesha and Shumshana, or, 
j?poperly Me-shumshana, are the two terms foi*^hetwo orders of 
Bishop and Deacon in the third chapter of 1st Timothy. The 
terms Episcopat and MethropoUta have befen introduced into the 
Syrian Church fi-om the Greek. The Bishop seemed to be more 
surprised at the strikingout the sacred oi der of Deacon, than at 
the not findin|pthe order of a sopermten^ng Priei^ ofiBtdiop. 

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M0 GntwUm S€$Ml^dff^ ^ 

general less fhecptendy and less dognU(|£cali[}r* of 
3ieir peculiar forms w^en tlK'y areoW: onereasoo 
of which is, that the smaller sects, who are, for thie 
most part, poor, generally acquire their compe- 
tence of learning in advanced life. We next had 
conversation concerning forms of Worship; wheth- 
^ Christ intended that his Church shouk) have the 
same form onder die burning Une, and in a couq« 
4ry of frost and snow.'* 

''Udiamper, Dec. 1806. 
"From Cande-nad I returned to the sea-co9St 
to visit Lieut. Colonel Macaulay, the British Res- 
ident in Travancore. He is at present on tlie 
Island of Bal-gatty, cid^ed by the natives tb& 
Pepper Jungle. I have derived much vakiaUe 
information from this intelligent officer, who pos- 
sesses a better knowledge <^ the South of Indian 
Aan I suppose, any other European. He is a 
gentleman of highly cultivated mind, of much Ma- 
rions learning, and master of several languages. 
To these attainments he adds a quality which 
does not always accompany them. He is tte 
friend of Christianity. After residing with liira 
a few days, he accompanied me in a Tour to the 
interior. We first visited Udiamper, or as it is 
called by the Portuguese writers, Diamper. This 
was formerly the residence of Beliarte, King of 
the Christians; and here is the Syrian Church at^ 
which Archbishop Menezes from Goa, convened ^ 
the Synod of the Syrian Clergy in 1599. when ha. 
burned the Syriac and Cbaldaic books. .Thp 
Syrians report, that while the flames ascended, hfCf 
went round the Ciiurch in prQcessiQ% cbauatin|;^ 
a song of triumph. 

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resfitting tHe Syrtam^ Wt 

'*^^!Prom Udiamper, Colonel Macaulay accom* 
pbtlied me to Cande-nad, to visiithe SvrianBish- 
ofi a second time. He told us he had commen- 
ced the translation of the Scriptures. He was 
rather indisposed, and said he felt the infirmities 
of advanced years, his age being now seventyeight. 
^Ff^romised to see him once more before I left the 
<rotintry«^^ 

^^Cranganore^ 9th Dec. 1806, 
"This is that celebraied place of Christian an- 
tiquity where the apostle Thomas is said to have 
landed, when he first arrived in India from Aden 
in Arabia. There was formerly a town and fort at 
Cranfranore, the Portuguese having once thought 
of making it theemporium of their commerce in* 
India; but both are now in ruins. There is how- . 
ever one substantial relic of its greatness. There 
is an Archbishop of Cranganore, and subject to 
hifft there are forty five Churches, many of which 
It^ntered. In some ot them the worship is con- 
dieted with as nmch decorum as in the Jlomish 
Churches of Western Ireland Not fer from Cran- 
ganore is the town of Paro^r, where there is an 
ancient Syrian Church, which bears the name of 
the Apostle Thomas. It is supposed to be the 
ojkiest in IMfolabar, and is still used for Divine Ser- 
vice. I took a drawing of it. The tradition 
among the Syrians is, that the Apostle continued 
at this place for a time, before he went to preach 
at Mekipoor and St. Thomas's Mount, on the 
coasst of Coromandel, where he was put to death. 
The fiictis certainly of little, conbcquence; but I 
am -satisfii^ that we have as good authority for be- 



dbyGoogk 



108 CImstian Resedrchn 

lieving that the Apostle Thomas died in India, as 
that the Apostle Peter died at Rome. 

'Terapoli Dec 1 806. 

"This is the residence of Bishop Ray.niondo, 
the Pope's Apostolic Vicar in Malabar. There 
is a College here for the sacerdotal office, in which 
the Students (from ten to twenty in number) are 
instructed in the Latm and Syriac Languages. 
At Pulingunna there is another College, in w hich 
the Syriac alone is taught. Here I counted twelve 
Students. The Apostolic Vicar suf)erintends six- 
ty-four Churches; exclusive of the foity-five gov- 
erned by the Archbishop of Cranganore, and ex- 
clusive of the large Dioceses of the Bishops of 
Cochin and of Quilon, whose Churches extend to 
Odpe Comorin, and are visible from the sea. ' 
The view of this assemblage of Christian congre- 
gations excited in my mind mingled sensations of 
pleasure and regret; of pleasure to think that k) * 
many of the Hindoos had been rescued from the 
idolatry of Brahma, and its criminal worship; and 
of regret wlien I reflected that there was n6t to ,bc 
found among the whole body, one copy of the 
Holy Bible. 

"'l*he Apostolic Vicar is an Italian, and corres- 
ponds with the Society *de propaganda Fide.' He 
is a man of liberal manners, and gave me free ac- 
cess to the archives oY Verapoli, which are up- 
wards of two centuries old. lit the library I 
foiind many volumes marked *Libef hereticus 
prohibitus.' Everv step I take in Christian In* 
dia, I meet with a jmemento of the Inquisition. 
The Apostolical Viwr, however,does not acknowl- 
edge its authority 9 and places himself under Brit-^ 

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reading fhe Syrians. 109 

ish protection. He spoke of the Inquisition with 
ju -^t indignation, and, in the presence of the Brit- 
ish Resident, called it *a horrid Tribunal.' I ask- 
ed him whether he thought I might with safety- 
visit the Inquisition when I sailed past Goa; there 
being at this time a British force in its vicinity. It 
asserted a personal jurisdiction over natives who 
were now British subjects; and it was proper the 
English Government should know something of 
its present state. The Bishop answered, *I do 
not know what you might do, under the protec- 
tion of a British force; but I should not like (smil- 
ing and pressing his capacious sides,) to trust my 
body in their hands.' 

**We then had some conversation on the sub- 
ject of giving the Scriptures to the native Roman 
Catholics. Ihad heard before, that the Bishop 
was by no means hostile to the measure. I told 
him ihat I should probably find the means of trans- 
lating the Scriptures into the Malabar L?inguage> 
atid wished to know whether he had anyVobJection 
to this mode of illuminattng the ignomilt minds 
<^ the native Christians. lie said he h^d n&ne^f 
I visited the Bishop two or three times afterwards;;: 
At our last interview he said, *Ihave been think- ^ 
ing of the good gift you are meditating for die »a*' 
tive Christians) but believe me the. Inquisition. 
u41i endeavor to Counteract your purposes by ev- 
tty means in Aeir power. I afterwards convers- 
'ed with M intelligent native Priest who was well 
ac^uain^lt^ with the state and character of the 
Christirans, ahd a$^ed him whether he thougfai 
diey would be happy to obtain the Scriptures? 
^esi^atisw^rtttoe, 'those who hm^ heard of thenu 

to 

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110 Gitnstian Researches . 

I askedlf he had got a Bible himself? *No,' he said, 
*but he had seen one at Goa,' " 

^'^Angamalee^ a Syrian Tcnvriy coniamvng Three- 
Cfiurches^ January^ 1807. 

**I have penetrated once more inland, to visit 
the Syrian Churches* At the town of Cenottav I 
^vas surprised to meet with Jews and Christians in 
the same street. The Jews led me first to their Syn- 
agogue, and allowed me to take away some man- 
uscripts for money. The Syrian Christians then 
conducted me to their ancient Church. I after- 
Wiuxls sat down on an eminence above the town, 
to contemplate this interesting apecteck; a Jew- 
ish Synagogue, and a Christian Chwcb, stand- 
ing ov^r against each other;: eKhibiting, as it 
Were, during many revolving agfes^ the Law aini 
the Gospel to the view of tlie4i^then people. 

"Angamalee is one of the most remote of the 
Syrian towns in (this direction, and is situated oa 
a high ]aiK]#r Tbiis was once the residence of the^ 
Syrian Bishop.- The inhabits^s. told me, that 
whcm Tif^oo Sultan invaded Travancore, a de- 
taohtnent of his Cavalry penetrated to Angama- 
le^,' where they expected to find great w^th, 
fpom, its ancient fdme. Being Mahpmedans^ they 
expressed their abbori^nce of the Chrbti^n^ reli- 
gion, by destroying <me of the fesser Ch|ircbe@^ 
and stablmg their borses in the grent .Church. I9 
this place I hav^ found a good maa^y valuable 
manuscripts. I h^ been led to suppnoMse^ from 
the statement of the Portuguese historians, that 
possibly aH the Syriac MSS. of Ae Bible had 
been burned by the Romish Cliiireh<»t the Synod 

of Diamper in 1599. But this was iiot the case. 

* 

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respecting the Syrians. Ill 

The Inquisitors condemned many books to the 
~ flames; but they saved the Bible; being content 
*to order that the Syriac Scriptures should be 
amended agreeably to the Vulgate of Rome. 
But many Bibles and other volumes were not 
f produced' at all. In the Acts of the Council of 
Nice it is pecorded, that Johannes Bishop of In- 
dia signed his name at that Council in a. b. 325. 
The Syriac version of the Scriptures was brought 
to India according to the popular belief, before 
the year 325. Some of their present copies are 
certainly of ancient date. Though written on a 
strong thick paper, like that of some MSB. in the 
British Mtiseum, commonly called Eastern paper, 
tlie ink has, in several places, eat through the 
material in the exact form of tl>e letter. In other 
copies, where the ink had less of a corroding 
quality, it has fallen off, and left a dark vestige ot* 
^ tlie letter, faint indeed, but not, in general, ille- 
gible. There is a vokime, which was deposited 
in one of the remote. Churches, near the moun- 
tains, which merits a particular description. It 
contsdns the Old and New Testaments, engross- 
ed cm strong vellum, in large folio, having three 
columes in a page; and is written with beautiful 
accuracy. The character is Estr^gelo Syriac; 
and the words of every book are numbered. But 
the volume has suffered injury from time or neg- 
lect. In certain places the ink has been totally 
obliterated from the page, and left the parchment 
in its state of natural whiteness: but the letters 
can, in genjfcal, be distinctly traced from the im- 
press of the pen, or from the partial corrosion of 
. the ink. I scarcely expected that the Syrian 
Church would have parted with thisi manusgript\ 

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112 0iristt€^} Researeh^^ 

Bui the Bishop was pleased to present it to me. 
sa} inp-, 'It will be safer in your hands than in our 
oivn;' alhrdingjo the revolutions in Hindostan.* 
•And yet/ said he, *we have kept it, as sorae 
think, for near a thou sand years.* *I wish,' said 
J, *that England may be able to keep it a thou.- 
sand years.' In looking over It, I find the very 
first proposed emendation of the Hebrew Text 
by Dr. Kennicott (Gen. iv, 8,) in this manu* 
script; and, no doubt, it is the right reading* 
The disputed passage in 1 John v, 7, is not to be 
found in it; nor is this verse to be found in any copy 
of the Syriac Scriptures which I have yet seen. 
But notwithstanding this omission, and notwith- 
standing the great display of learning in main- 
taining a contrary opinion, I believe the passage 
to be genuine. The view of these copies of the 
Scriptures, and of the Churches which contain 
them, still continues to excite a pleasing aston- ^ 
ishment in my mind: and I sometimes question** 
myself, whether I am indeed in India,, in the 
midst of the Hindoos, and not far/ro?n the, equi- 
noctial line. How wonderful it isj that^ during 
the dark ages of Europe, whilst ignorance and 
superstition, in a manner, denied the Scriptures 
to the rest of the world, the Bible should have 
found an asylum in the mountains of Malay-ala; 
where it was freely read by upwards of an hun- 
dred Churches! 

"But there are other ancient documents in 
Malabar, not less interesting than the Syrian 
Manuscripts. The old Portugueft historians 
relate, that soon after the arrival of their country- 
men in India, about 300 years ago, the §yrian 
Bishop of Angamalee (the place where I now am) 

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respecting the Syrians. 113 

deposited in the Fort of Cochin, for safe custody^ 
certain tablets of brass, on which were engraved 
rights of nobility, and other privileges granted by 
a Prinee of a former age; and that while these 
Tablets were under the charge of the Portu- 
guese, they had been unaccountably lost, and 
were never after heard of, Adrian Moens, a 
Governor of Cochin in 1770; who published 
some account of the Jews of Malabar,, informs 
us that he used every means in his power, for 
mkny years, to obtain a * sight of the famed 
Cl^ristian Plates; and was at length satisfied that 
they were irrecoverably lost; or rather, he adds^ 
that they never existed. The Learned in gen- 
eral, and the Antiquarian in particular, will^ be 
glad to hear that these ancient Tablets have been 
recovered within this last month by the exertions 
of Lieutenant Colonel Macaulay, the British 
Resident in Travancore, and are now officially 

^deposited with that Officer* 

*^^The Christian Tablets are six in number.. 
They are composed erf a mixed metal. The en. 
graving on the largest plate is thirteen inches long, 
by about four broad. They are closely written, 
four of them on both sides of the' plate, making 
in all eleven pages. On the plate reputed to be 

"the oldesty there is writing^ perspicuously engraved 
innail'headed or trianular headed letters}^ resem- 
bling the PersepoUtan or Babylonish. On the 
same plate there is writing in another charar;ter, 
which is supposed to have no affinity with any 
existing character in Hindostan. The grant on 
this plate appears to be witnessed by four Jews 
erf rank, whose names are distinctly engraved in 
SBi old Hebrew character, resembling the alph^-r 
♦ 10 ' 

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114 Christian Resea/lrehei 

bet called the Palmyrene: and to each name \% 
prefixed the title of ^^Magen^* or Chiefs as the 
Jews translated it. It may be doubted^ whether 
there exist in the world many.documcnii of so 
great length, which are of equal antiquity, and 
in such faultless preservation, as the. Christian 
Tablets of Malabar. The Jews erf Cophin indeed ^ 
contest the palm of antiquity, for they also pro- 
duce two Tablets, containing privileges granted 
at a remote period; of which they presented to 
me a Hebrew translation. As no person can be 
found in this countr}" who is able to translate the 
Christian Tablets, I have directed an engraver at 
Cochin to execute a copper-plate fac simile of 
the whole, for the puqDOse of transmitting copies 
to the learned Societies in Asia and Europe. 
The Christian and Jewish plates together make 
fourteen i>ages. A i::opy was sent in the first 
instance to the Puivdits of the Shanscrit Col* 
lege at Trichiur, by direction of tlie Rajah o£ 
Cochin; but they could not read the character.* 
From this place I proceed to Caude-nad to 
visit the Bishop once moi'e, before I return to 
BeiigaP^ > 



THE MALABAR BIBLE. 

Aftjer the Author left Travancore, the Bishop 
prosecuted the translation of the Scriptures into 

V ' • 

*MQSt of the lHanuscvipts which Lcolleeted i^ong the Sj!i^iH| 
Chriaiians, l^hav^ pf'iesented to the Vniversity of Cambric^e: ani) 
ttiey are now deposited in the PubUc Library of that ^nir^rsit^ 
toge^ker witU the cbpperplato frcr Mflatf «« of ^ GhrlflianftM 
jf^\mh Tabkia. 

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respecting the S^ans. 115 

the Malabar Language without intermission, un* 
til he had completed the New Testament. The 
year following, the Author visited Travancore a 
second titne, and carried the Manuscript to Bom- 
bay to be printed; an excellent fount of Malabsdr 
tjrpes having been recently cast at tliat place. 
Xiearned natives went from Travancore to supers 
intend the press; and it is probable that it is now 
nearly finished, as a copy of the Gospels of St. 
Matthew and St. Mark, beautifully printed, was 
received in England some time ago. This ver« 
sion of the Scriptures will be prosecuted until 
the Mhoie Bible is completed, and copies cir* 
culated throughout the Christian regions of Ma- 
labar. 



THE SYRIAC BIBLE. 

It has been further in contemplation to print an 
edition of the Syriac Scriptures, if the public 
should countenance the design. This gift, it may 
Jbe presumed, the English nation will be pleased 
^o present to the Syrian Christians. We are al* 
^^eady debtors to that ancient people. They have 
preserved the manuscripts of the Holy Scrip* 
tures incorrupt, during a long series of ages, and 
have now committed them into our own hands. 
By their long and energetic defence of pure doc- 
trine against anti-christian error, they are entitled 
to the gratitude and thanks df the rest of the 
Christian' world. Furriier, Ihey have preserved 
to ^ka day thg latiguage in wbich oar blessed 
Lord^prea€hed'to men the ghid (i^^ ct Salva« 
tion. l)id&r''6oQjptufs«», ifeek dootriney ^is 

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116 Christian Researches. 

language, in short their very existence, all add 
something to the evidence of the truth of Ghris- 
tianity. 

The motives then for printing an ^tion of 
the Syriac Bible are these: , 

1. To do honor to the language which was 
spoken by our blessed Savior when upon earth, 

2. To do honor to that ancient Church, which 
has preserved his lang^uage and his doctrine, 

3. As the means of perpetuating the true Faith 
in the same Church for ages to come. 

4. As the means of preserving the pronuncia- 
tion, and of cultivating the knowledge of the Sy- 
riac Language in the East; and 

5. As the means of reviving the knowledge of 
the iSyriac Language in our own nation. 

On the Author's return to England, he could 
not find one copy of the Syriac Bible in a separ- 
ate volume for sale in the kingdom. He wished 
to send a copy to the Syrian Bishop, as an earnest 
of more, When an edition should be printed. 

The Syriac Bible is wanted not only by the 
Churches of the Syrian Christians, but by the 
♦till more numerous Churches of the Syro-Rom-^ 
Ish Christians in Malabar^ who also use the Sy- 
riac Language. 



THE ROMISH CHRISTIANS IN INDLA.. 

In every age of the Church of Rome there hava 
been individuals, df an enlightened piety, wbo 
derived their religion not frprtt ♦Hhe qomttiiind'- 
mentg of meii,*' but from, the doctrines of the 
Bibte, There^ai* ^ ^i^t in Jbwiii and id 

• / 

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The Romish Cfmstianis. 117 

Cngland, members of that communion, who de- 
serve the affection and respect of all good menj 
aiid whQ|e cultivated minds will arraign the cor<^ 
ruptions of their pwn religion, which the Author 
is about to dcscrilje, more severely than be will 
permit himself to do. He is indeed prepared to 
speak of Roman Catholics with as much liberal** 
ity as perhaps any Protestant has ever attempt- 
ed on Christian principles: for he is acquainted 
'with individuals, whose unaffected piety he con^ 
siders a reproach to a great body of Protectants^ 
even of the strictest sort. It is indeed painful to 
say any thing which may seem to feeling and no^ 
ble minds ungenerous; but those enlightened 
' perst^s, whose good opinion it is desirable to 
l^ree^rve, will themselves be pleased to see thf^ 
truth is not sacrificed to personal respect, 
or to a spurious candor. Their own Church 
sets an example, of "plaiiuiess of speech'* in the 
assertion of those tenets which it professes, 
some of which must be extremely painful to 
the feelinjg of Protestants, in their social inter- 
course with Catholics; such as, "That there 
is no salvation out of the pale of the Romisl^ 
Church." 

This exclusive character prevents concord and 
intimacy between Protestant and Catholic fam- 
ilies. On the principles of Infidelity they can 
associate very easily; but on the principles of 
Religion, the Protf stant must ever be on the cfe- 
fensive; for the Romish Church . excommuni- 
cates him: and although he must hope that some 
individuals do not maintain the tenet, yet his un« 
certainty as to the fact prevents that' cordiality 
which he desires. Many excellent Catholics suf- 

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118 ChrisHan Bese(»rchet. 

for unjustly in their intercourse with Protestant^ 
from the ancient and exclusive articles of their 
own Church, wh^ch they themselves ncfther pro- 
fess nor believe. If tbey will only intinutte to 
their Protestant friends, that they renounce the 
exclusive principle, and that they profess the re- 
lig^on of the Bible, no more seems requisite to 
form with such perscwis the sincerest friendship 
bn Christian principles. 

* * At the present time we see the Romish Reli- 
gion in Europe without dominion; and hence it 
is viewed by the mere philosopher with indiffin*- 
cnce or contempt. He is pleased to see, that the 
"seven heads and the ten horns'' are taken away; 
and thinks nothing of the ^^names of blasphemy •" • 
But in the following pages, the Author will have 
occasion to shew what Rome is, as having dom- 
inion; and possessing it too within the bound* 
arks of the British Empire. 

In passing through the Romish Provinces in 
the East, though the Author had before heard 
much of the Papal corruptions, he certainly did 
not expect to see Christianity in the degradrtj 
3tate in which he found it. Of the Priests n 
may truly be said, that they are, in general, bet- 
ter acquainted with the Veda of Brahma than 
with the Gospel of Christ, In some places the 
doctrines of both are blended. At Aughoor, 
situated between Tritchinopoly and Madura, he 
witnessed (in October 1806) the Tower of Jug- 
gernaut employed to solemnize a Christian festi* 
vaL The old Priest Josephus accompanied him^ 
when he surveyed the idolatrous car and its paint- 
edr figures, and gave him a particular acccaint of 
•the various ceremonies which are performed, 

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The Romish Christians. 119 

seemingly unconscioQs himself of any impropri- 
ety in tWm. The Author went with him after- 
wards into the Church, -and seeing a book lying 
on the aUar, opened it; but the Reader may judge 
• of his surprise, when he found it was a Syriac 
vohime, and was informed that the Priest him- 
^If was a descendant of the Syrian Christians, 
and belonged to what is now called the Syro- 
Rpman-Church, the whole service of which is in 
Syriac. Thus, by the intervention of the Papal 
power, are the ceremonies of Moloch consecrat- 
^ in a manner by the sacred Syriac Language* 
What a he^vy responsibility lies on Rome, for 
having thus corrupted and degraded that pure 
and ancient Church! 

. While the Author viewed these Christian cor- 
ruptions in different places, and in different forms, 
he was always referred to the Inquisition at Goa, 
as liic fountain-head. He had long cherished 
the hope, that he should be able to visit Goa 
before he left India. His chief objects were the 
following: 

1. To ascertain whether the Inquisition actu* 
i^ly refused to recognize the Bible, among the 
Romish Churches in British India. 

2. To inquire into the state and jurisdiction of 
the Inquisition, particularly as it affected Britbh 

^ subjects. ^ 

•3 To learn what was the system of education 
for the Priesthood; and 

4^ To eiuimine the ancient Church-libraries 
in Goa, which were said to cont^n all the books 
^f the £rst printing. 

He will select from his Journal, in thb places 
chiefl/ what relates to the Inquisition. He bsd 

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l20 Ch'f^stian Mesem^eheB. 

learnt from every quarter, that this tribunal form, 
erly ^o well known for its frequent burnings, was 
still in operation, th(^ugh under some restrictions 
as to tht publicity of its proceedings; and that its 
power extended to the extreme boundary in Hin- 
dostan. That, m the present civilized ^ate of 
Christian nations in Europe, an Inquisition should 
exist at all under their authority, appeared strange; 
but that a Papal tribunal of this character should 
exist under the implied toleration and counten- 
ance of the British Oovemment; that Christians, 
being subjects to the British Empire, and inhab- 
iting the British territories, should be amenable 
to its power and jurisdiction, was a statement 
which seemed to be scarcely credible; but, if 
true, a fact which demanded the most public and 
i^lemn representation. 

^^Goa; Convent of the AugUstinian^^ 

j^'"' ifen<? 23, 1808. 
•*On my J^rival at Goa, 1 was received kKo 
the house of Captain Schuyler, the British Res- 
ident. The British force here is commanded k^ 
Colonel Adams, of His Majesty's 78fi> Regi- 
ment, with whom I was formerly well acquainted 
in Bengal.* Next day I was introduced ;fay 
these gentlemen to the Vice- Roy of Goa, the 
Count de Cabral. I intimated to His Excellencr^ 
my wish to sail up the river to Old Goa,t^here 

*The forts in the htrbor of Go* tvere then oceuf^d by British 
ttoope (two King^ftitximentt, and two reginienu of Kalive io' 
fantry) to prevent its tailing into the hands of the French. 

tThere is. Old and New Go«. The old eiiy is ahout ^^^ 
nlAes up 6le titer. Tlve Vioe^Roy and the chief POTtii|FUe«e in* 
babi«ant8 ;reside at New Goa, which is at the mouth of theriveiy 
within the forts of the harbor. th6 old city, where tke im^gaki^ 

* ^j 

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The Bomish Om^iam. Itl 

the Inquiski6n is,) to whicK he politely acceded. 
Major P^reira, of the Portuguese establishment, 
who was present, and to whom I had letters of 
introduction from Bengal, offered to accompany 
me to the city, and to introduce me to the Arch- 
bbhq> of Goa, the Primate of the Orient. 

"I had communicated to Colonel Adams, and 
to the British Resident, my purpose of inquiring 
into the state of the Inquisition. These geutie-' * 
men informed me, that I should not be able to 
accomplish my, design without difficulty; since 
every thing relating tp the Inquisition was con- 
ducted in a very secret manner, the most re^* 
pectable of the Lay Portuguese themselves being 
Ignorant of its proceedings; arid tjiat, if the 
Priests were to discover my object, their exces- 
sive jealousy and alarm would prevent their com- 
municating with me, or satisfying my inquiries 
on any subject. 

"On receiving this intelligence, I perceived 
that it would be necessary to proceed with cau- 
tion. I was, in fact, about to visit a republic of 
Priests; whose dominion had ejMst^d for nearly 
thre^ centurtes; whose province it was to prose^ 
cute heretics, and particularly the teachers of 
heresy; and from whose authority and sentence 
there was no appeal in India.* 

turn and. the Glairchet are, is now almost entirely deserted by the 
secular Portug^uese, and is inhabited by the Priests alone* The 
linliealthiness of the place, and the ascendancy of the PriestSt'. 
are the causes assigned for abandoning the ancient city. , 

*r was informed that the Vtce-Hoy ^f Goahas no authority over 
the Inquisition, and that he himself is liable to its censure. Were 
Hie British Government, for instance, to prefer a complaint against 
Uie Inquisition to the Fi)rtagttese -Government at Gga/ it could 
6htain no redress. By the fcry constitution of the Inqt^sitio^^ 

11 < 

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.122* Chrif/tUm BeBearc}}49. 

"It happened that Lieutenant K^mptbome, 
h Commander of His Majesty's brig Diana, a dis- 
tant connexion of my own, was- at this time in 
the harbor. On his learning that I meant to 
visit Old Goa, he offered to accompany me; as 
did Captain Stirling, of His Majesty's 84th reg- 
ment, which is now stationed at the forts. 

"We proceeded up the river in the British 
Resident's barge, accompanied by Major Pareira, 
who was well qualified, by a thirty years' resid« 
cnce^ to give information concerning 15cal cir- 
cumstances. From him I learned that there 
were upwards of two hundred Churdies and 
Chapels in x\\t province of Goa, and upwards 
of t^o thousand Priests. 

"On our arrival at the city,* it was p^st twelve 
o'clock: all the Churches were shut, and we were 
told that they would not be opened again till two 
o'clock. I mentioned to Major Pareira, that J 
intended to stay at Old Goa some idays; and that 
I should be.obliged to liim to find me a place to 
sleep in. He seemed surprised at this intima- 
tion, and obser^i^ that 4t would be difficult for 
rtie to obtt^n a reception in any of the Churches 
or Convents, and that there were no privsUse 

there is no pQwer in India which can invade its jurisdiction^ or 
even'put a question to if on any subject. 

*We entered the city by the palace g«ite, over which is the Sta- 
tue of Vasco de Gama, who first opened India to »he view of Eo- 
rope 1 bad seen at Calicut, A few weeks before, the ruins of the 
Sahorii^s palace^ in which Vasco de Gama wariirst received. 
The Samorin was the firsi native Prince against whom tlie Euro* 
peans niade war> I he empire of the Samorhi has passed away; 
and tbe empire of his conquerors has passed away: and now iaEi*> 
perial Britain' exercises dominion. May imperial Britain he pre- 
pared to give ^ good account of her stewardsliip, when it shall be 
Mid unto her^ *'Thou mayest be no longer steward/' 

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The Romish Chrislim^. 123 

liouses into which I could be admitted. I said I 
could sleep any where; 1 had two servants with me, 
and a travelling bed. When he perceived that I 
was serious in my purpose, he gave directions lo 
a civil officer, in that place, to clear olit a room 
in a building which had been long uninhabited, 
and which was then used^s a warehouse for goods. 
Matters at this time presented a very gloomy 
appearance; and I had thoughts of* returning 
with my companions from this inhospitable place. 
lA the m^an time we sat down in the room I 
have just mentioned, to take some refreshment, 
while Major Pareira went to call on ^ome of his 
fiiends. During this interval, I communicated 
to Lieutenant Kempthorne the object of my visit. 
I had in my pocket *Dellon's Account of the In- 
quisition at Goa;'* and I mentioned some par- 
ticulars. While we were conversing on the sub- 
ject, the great bell of the Cathedral began to toll; 
the same which Dellon observes always tolls, be- 
fr)re day -light, on the morning of the Auto da 
Fe. I did not myself ask any questions of the 
people concerning the Inquisitio#but Mr. Kemp- 
thorne made inquiries^for me: and h%soon found / 
out that the Santa Caja, or Holy Office, was 
close to the house where we were then sitting. 
The gentlemen went to the w^indow to view the 
hprrid mansion; and I could see the indignation of 
free and enlightened men arise in the countenances 
of the two British officers, while they contem- 

• Monsieur Dellon, a physician, was imprisoned in the dungeon 
of the Inquishioii at Goa for two years, and witnessed an Auto 
da Fe, when some heretics were burned; at which time he walk-, 
ed barefoot Afier his release he wrote the history of his corl- 
iinement. His descriptions are in general very accurate. 



dbyGoogk 



124 Christian Researches. 

plated a place where formeriy their own country^ 
ini^p were condemned to the flames, anti into 
which they themselves might now suddenly bje 
thrown, without the possibility of rescue. ' 

"At two o'clock we went out to view tl^. 
Churches, which Were now open for the after- 
noon service; for there are regular daily masses; 
and the bells began to assail the ear in every 
quarter. ^ 

**The magnificence of the Churches of Goa 
far exceeded any idea I had formed from the 
previous description. Goa is properly a city of 
Churches, and the wealth of provinces seems to 
have been expended in their erection. The an- 
cient specimens of architecture at this place far 
excel any thing that has been attempted in mod- 
ern times in any other part of the East, both in 
grandeur and in taste. The Chapel of the Palace 
is built after the plan of St. Peter's at Rome, and 
is said to be an accurate model of that paragon 
of architecture. The Cliurch of St. Dominic, 
the founder of Jhe Inquisition, is decorated with. 
paintings of ItAn masters. St. Francis Xaviet 
lies enshrined in a monument of exquisite art, 
and his coffin is enchajed with silver and pre* 
eious s0nes. The Cathedral of Goa is worthy of 
one of the principal cities of Europe; and the 
Church and Convent of the Augustinians (in 
which I now reside) is a noble pile of building, 
situated on an eminence, and has a magnificent 
api)earance from afar. 

**But what a contrast to all this grandeur of 
the Churches is the worship offered in them! 1 
have been present at the service in one or other 
of the Chapels every day since I arrived; and I . 

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The Romish ChrisHana. 125 

seldom see a single worshipper, but the eccfesi- 
astics. Two rows of native Priests, kneeling iii 
order before the altar, clothed in coarse black 
garments, of sickly appearance and vacant. coun- 
tenance^ perform here, from day to day, their 
laborious masses, seemingly unconscious of any 
other duty or oblig*ation of life. 

"The day was now far spent, and my compan- 
ions were about to leave me. While I was con- 
sidering whether I should return with them^ 
Major Pareira said he would first introduce me 
to a Priest, high in office, and one of the mbst 
learned men in the place. We accordingly 
walked to the Convent of the Augustioians, 
where I was presented to Josephus a Doloribus, 
a man well advanced in life, of pale visage and 
pienetrating eye, rather of a reverend appearance^ 
and possessing great fluency of speech and ur- 
banity of manners. At'^first sight he presented the 
aspect of one of those acute and prudent men of 
the world, the learned and respectable Italian* 
Jesuits, some of whom are yet found, sin^ the 
demolition of their order, /egMJkig iu tranquil 
obscurity, in different parts of tne East, After 
hajf an hour's conversHtion in the Latin language^ 
during which he adverted rapidly to a variety of 
subjects, and inquired concerning some learned 
men of his own Church, whom I had visited iii 
my tour, he politely invited me to take up my 
residence vvith him, during my stay at Old Goa^ 
I was highly gratified by this unexpected invita- 
tion, but Lieutenant Kempthorne did not approve 
of leaving me in the hands of the Inquisitor^ 
For judge of bur surprise, when we discovered* 
that my learned host wa§ one of the Inquisitors 

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126 Chririimn Biesem^heg, 

of the H^ office, the second member of that 
au{;ust trMMinal in rapk, but the first and most 
active agent in the business of the department. 
Aparti^ents were assigned to me in the Collegj^ 
adjoining the Convent, next- to the rooms of the 
Inquisitor himself; and here I have been now ^ 
four days at the very fountain head of informa-^ 
fion, in regard to those subjects which I wish to • 
investigate, I breakfast and dine with the lo- 
quisitor almost every day, and he generally passes^ 
his evenings in my apartment As he considers 
my inquiries to be cliiefly of a literary nature, he 
is perfectly candid and communicative oa all 
subjects. 

*^Next day after my arrival, I was introduced 
by my learned conductor to the Archbishop of 
GoQ. We found him reading the Latin Letters 
of St. Francis Xavier. On my adverting to the 
long duration of the city of Goa, white other 
cities of Europeans in India had suffered from 
war or revolution, the Archbishop observed, that 
the p>escrvatio«^,of Goa vvas *owing to the pray- 
ers of St. Fran|*^pivier.' . The Inquisitor look^ 
ed at me to se^wim«piQUght of this sentimient^ 
I acknowledged tha^wavier was considered by 
the learned among thel|»g;Hs>h to have been 4 
great man. W hat he wroti|S^«iself bespeaks him a 
n^n of learning, of original genius, and great for- 
titude of mind; but what others have written for 
him and of him has tarnished hi^ famr, by nuk- 
ing him the inventor of fables. The A»€libi$bopt, 
signified his assent. He adtrwards conducted 
me into his private Chapel, which is dbt orated 
with images of silver, wd ttew iaito ihe Archk* 
piscopal Libfary, which poi^sesses^ valuable col-. 



dbyGoogk 



The Bmmh Omaim*- IH^ 

lectioA of hocks. As. I passed tbrcrtigb our, 
Ccmvent^ in returning from the Archbishop's, I 
observed among the . paintings in the cloisters a 
portrait of the &inous Alexis de Menezes, Ajch- 
bishc^ of Goa, who held the Synod of Diamper 
tfbar Cochin in 1599, and burned the books of 
tl^ %mn Christians. From the inscription uo- 
demeatb I learned that he was the four^i: of the 
magoiScent Church and Convent liv whi^h I sm, 
now residing. 

**On the same day I recjcived an inviUition ta, 
din^ witli the chief Inquisitor, at liis house, in the 
country. The second Inquisitor acdonp4)ani^ 
me, and we found a respectable /<:ompany of 
Prksts, and a sumptuous entertainment* In the 
library of the chief Inquisitor I savv^a register, 
oyitaining the present establishment cjf the In- 
quisition at Goa, and the names of all the offigers^ 
On my asking the chief Inquisitor li^hether the 
establishment was as extensive as formerly, he 
sakl it was nearly the, same. I had hitherto said 
little, to any person concerning the Inquisition^ 
but I liad indirectly gleaned. m^^ information 
concerning it^ not only faim me Inquisitors, 
themselves^ but from certain Priests, whom I 
visited at their respective convents; particularly 
from a Father in the Franciscan Convent, who 
had himself repeatedly wiUiessed an Auto cbi 
Fe.'' . 

^Qoap jfkigusfinian Corweni^ Si6th Jm^ 1808^ 
**On Sunday alter Divine service^ which I at- 
tended, we looked over together the prayers and . 
portions of Sciipfeure for the day, whichled to a dis^ 
cussion concerning some of the doctrines of Chrk- 

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tianity. We then read thj? third phi^er of St.J^n'a 
Gospel, m tlie Latin Vulgate. I a&ked the Inquisitor 
whether he believed in the inftuence of the SpiriJ 
ther^ spoken of. He distinctly admitted it; con*: 
joinUy however he thought, in some obscui]e 
sense, with water. I observed that water wal 
merely an emblem of the purifying eflFects of the 
Spirit, and could be hit an emblem. We nex^ 
adverted to Ae expression of St. John in«his 
first Epistle; *This is he that came by xoater and 
blood: even Je^us Christ; not by water only, but 
by water tad blood: '-^blood to atone for sin, and 
water to purify the heart; justification and sane* 
tification: both of which w^re expressed at the 
same moment on the Cross. The Inquisitor was 
pleased with the subject. I referred to the evan- 
gelical doctrines of Augustin^we were now in 
the Augustinian Convent) plainly asserted by 
that Father in a thousand places, and he acknowU 
edged tlieir truth. I then asked him in what im- 
portant doctrine he differed from the Protestant 
Church? He confessed that he never had a theo- 
logical discusis^ with a Protestant before. By 
an easy transition wq«passed to the importance of 
the B^ble itself, to ifluminate the priests an4 ped- 
pie, I noticed to him that after looking through 
the colleges and schools, there appeared to me tOv 
be a total eclipse oi Scriptural light. He ac-' 
knowledged that religion and learning were truly 
in a degraded state. I had vii^ed the theolog- 
ical schocrfs, and ^ every piace I expressed my 
surprise to the tutors, in presence of the pupils, 
at the absence of the Bible, and almost total want 
of reference to it. They pleaded the custom of; 



dbyGoqgk 



XSlie mfmOk Oiristims. ^2$ 

^ jjlace, and the saiarcity of copies of t1« t)ook 
itself. Some of the younger Priests came to me 
Mterwards, desiring to know by what means they 
might procure copfes. This inquiry for BAAsb 
Uras like a ray of hope beaming on the walls of 
th^ Inquisition. 

"I pass an hour sorngtimefs in the spacious 
Bbrary of the Augustinian Convent. Ther^ arii 
many rare vdumes, but they are chiefly theology 
ical, and almost all of the sixteenth century. 
ITiere are few classics; and I have not yet seen 
.one copy of the original Scriptures in Hebrew or 
Greek.? ^ 

* ^^Goa^ Augmtmian Cotwent^ 27 ih Jan. 1808; 

"On the second momirig after my arrival, I 
was surprised by my host^ the Inquisitor, com- 
ing into my apartment clothed in ^ck robes 
from head to fpa<; for the uaual dress of his cm4 
der is. white. He said he was going to sit oa 
tjie Tribunial of the Holy Office. *I presume^ 
Father, you^ august office does not occUpy 
much of your time.* *Yes,'ip answered Jie, 
*much. I sit on the Tritonnal three or four 
days every week.^ 

"I had thougW, for some days, of putting Del. 
Ion's book into the Inquisitor's hands; for if I 
could get him to advert to the facts stated in 
that book, I should be able to learn, by compar* 
ison, the exact state of the Inquisition at the pre- 
. sent time. In the evening he came in, as usual, 
to pass an hour in my apartment. After some 
conversation I took the pen in my hand to write 
a few notes in my journal; and, as if to amuse 



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18p i^ristian Besmirches. 

him, while I was writing, I took up DeMon^s 
book, which was lying with «ome others on the 
table, and handing it across to him, asked him 
wh^her he had ever seen it. It was in the French 
Language, which he understood well. 'Relaticm 
de r Inquisition de Goa,' pronounced he, with a 
slow, articulate vdce. .He had never seen it be* 
fore, and began to read with eagistness. * He had ' 
not i»occeded far, before* he betrayed evident 
symptoms of uneasiness. He turned hastily to 
the middle of the booky and then to the end, and 
then ran over the table' of conte^its ^t the begin* 
ning, as if to ascertain the full extent of the evil. 
He then composed himself to read, while I con- 
tinued to write. He turned over the pages with 
rapidity, and when he came to a certain place^ 
he es^claimed in the broad Italian accent, ^Mern^ 
dactum, Meadacium*' I requested he wouhl 
mark those passages which wene untrue, and ^ 
^lould discuss them afterwards, for that. I h^ 
Other books on the subject. ^Otber books^f 
«id he, and he looked with an inquiring eye tm, 
those on the t^||le. He continued reading till it 
was time to retire to rest, and then begged td 
take the book with him. • 

**It was on tliis night that a circumstance hap- 
pened which caused my first alartn at Goa. My 
servants slept every night at my chamber door; 
in the long gallery which isv common to ail the 
apartments, and not far distant from the servants 
erf the convent. About midnight I was waked 
by loud shrieks and expressions of terror, front 
some person in the gallery. In the first moment 
.of surprise I concluded it must be the. A^uazits 
of the Holy OSBice, seizing my servants to carry 

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jRAmuft Chn^ians. 131 

[ iimm to the Inqiiisitim). But, on going out, I 
saw my own servants standing at the door, and 
the person who had caused the alarm (a boy of 
about fourteen) at a little distance, surrounded 
by some of the Priests, who had come out of 
their cells on hearing the noise* The boy saWi 
he had seen a spectre^ and it was a considerable 
tiffie before th^ agitations of his body and voice 
subsided. Next morning at breakfast the In- 
quisitor j^pologized for the disturbance, and said 
the boy's alarm proceeded from a *phantasma ani* 
jni,' a phantasm of the imagination. 
.» ** After bre^kfust we resumed the subject of 
the Inquisition. The Inquisitor ad rtiitted that 
Dellon's description of the dimgeons, of the tor. 
ture, of the mode of trial, and of the Auto da 
Fe were, in general, just; but -he said the writer 
judged untruly of the motives of the Inquisitors, 
and very uncharitably of the character of the 
Holy Church: arnJ 1 admitted that, under the 
pressure of his peculiar suffering, this might 
possibly be the case. The Inquisitor was now 
anxious to know to >vhat exten%Dellon's book 
had been circulated in Europe. I told him that 
Picart had pubUshed to the world extracts from 
^ it, in bis celebrated work called **fiiligious Cer- 
* "emonies;" together with plates of the system of 
torture and burnings at the Auto da Fe. I add- 
^d that it was now generally telteved in Europe 
tliat these enormities no longer existed,^ and that 
|he Inquisition itself had been totally suppressed; 
but that I was conceded to find that thts was 
not the cascj. He now began a grave narration 
to shew that the Inquisition had undergone a 



dbyGoogk 



ISC ChrisAaai Mtsemrcht$. 

change in some respects^ and that its terrors woe 
tnitigateid."* 

•The following were the passages in Mr. Dellon's narrative, 
•to which I wished particularly to draw the attention of the In- 
quisitor. Mr. D. had been thrown into the InquisilioB at Goa 
Ik^d confined in a dungeon, ten feet square, where he remained 
.upwards of two years, without seeing any person, but the gaoler 
who brought hina his victuals, except when he was brought to 
^a triul, expecting daily td be brought to the stake. Hia alleged 
crime was, charging the Inquisition with cruelty, in a convers*. 
;jion he had with a Priest at Jkiman^ another part of India. 

•*During the months of November and December, I heard, 
jgvery morning, the «hrieks of the unfortunate victims, who were 
undergoing the ^testion, I remembered to have heard, before 
I was cast into prison, that the Auto da Fe was generally cele- 
brated on the first Sunday in Advent, because on that day is 
read in the Qhurches that part of the Gospel in which mention 
is made of the last judgment; and the Inquisitors pretend 
by this ceremony to exhibit a lively emblem of that awful event? 
1 was likewise convinced that there were a great number of 
priHoners, besides myself; the pi-ofound silence, which reigned 
withitf the walls of the building, havi^ig enabled me to count the 
number of doors which were opened.gt the hours of meals. How- 
ever, the first and second Sundays of Advent passed by, without 
my hearing of any thing, and I prepared to undergo anotlier year 
• of melancholy captivity, when I was aroused from my des]>a|r 
on the llth of January, bj the noise of the guards removing the 
bars from the door of my prison. The ^/caiVe presented me -with, 
a habit, which he ordered me to put on, and to make myself 
. ready to attend him, when he should come again. Thus saying, 
he left a lighted tamp in my dudgeon. The guards returned* 
> kbout two o'clock in the morning,, and led me out into along 
gallery, where I found a numb^er of the companions Of my fate, 
drawn up in a rank against a wall: I placed myself among the 
rest, and several more soon joined the melancholy band. The 
pro^und silence and stillness caused them to resemble statues 
more than the animated bodies of human creatures. The womeQ, 
" who were clothed in a similar manner, were placed in a neigli- 
' boring gallery, where we could not see them; but I reroaHced 
, that a number of persons stood by themselves at some distance, 
attended by others who wore long black dresses, aqd who walk- 
; ed backwards and forwards occasionally. 1 did not then Mnow 
who these were: but I was afterwards informed Uiat the former 
were the victFrns who were condemned to be burned, and the 
bvhers were their confessors. 

"After ^e were alV ranged against the Wfdl of this gaPer3V we 

received each a large wax taper. They then brought ua a num« 

er ofdreasea made of yellow cloth, with the cross of Str» Ab:« 



dbyGoogk 



' The ^Romish Christian$^ 13^ 

*'I had already discovered, from written or 
printed documents, that the Inquisition at Goa 
was suppressed by Royal Edict in the year 1775, 
and established again in 1779, The Franciscan 

drew painted before and behind. This is called the San Benito: 
The relapsed heretics wear another species of robe, called thc^ 
Samarra, the mund of which is gfey. The portrait of the strfV 
ferer is painted upon it, placed upon burning torclies with 6ames 
and demons all round. • Caps were then produced, caHed Car- 
roektu; made of pasteboard, pointed like siigar-l«ave&> all cover- 
ed over with devils, and flames of fire. 

"The great bell of the Cathedral began to ring a little beforci 
sun -rise, which served as a signal to warn the peiaple of Goa ttf' 
come and behold the august ceremony of Jhe Aoto da Fe; and 
then they made us proceed from the gallery one by one. I re- 
marked as we passed into the great hall,, that the Inquisitor Wa* 
sitting at the door with his secretary by him, and that ht deliv- 

' ered every prisoner into the hands of a particulai^ person, who 
is to be>is guard to the place of buniing. - These persons are' 
called Parrains, or Godfathers, My Godfather was the confr- 
mander of a ship. I went forth with him, and as soon as wc 
were in the street, I saw that the procession was commenced by 
the CTominican Friars; who have this honor, because St. Domin- 
ic founded t'.ie Inquisition, These are followed by the prisons 
ers who walk one after the other, eaqh having his ^odfatheir by 
his side, and a lighted taper in his hand. The least ^tiKy gb 
foremost; and as I did not pass for one of them, there were 

^ many who took precedence of me. The women were mixed 
promiscuously with the men. We all walked barefoot, and th6 
sharp stones of the streets of Goa wounded my tender feet, and 
caused the blood to stream; fof they made us march through the 
chief streets of the city: and we were regarded every where by 
Im innumerable c|^wd of people, who had assembled from au 
parts of India to oebold this spectacle; for the Inquisition takes 
care to announce it^ long before, in the most remote parishes* 
At length we arrived at the Church of St. Francis, which was, 
for this time, destined for the celebration of the Act of Faith. 
On one side of the Altar, was the Grand Inquisitor and his 
Counsellors; and on the other, th^ Vice-Roy of Goa and hid 
Court. All the prisoners are seated to hear a Sermon. 1 ob- 
served that those prisoners who wore the horrible Carrochat canife 
in last in the procession. One of the Augustin Ittonlcs ascended 
the pulpit, and preached for a quarter of an hour. The sermon 
being concluded, two readera^^ent up to the pulpit, one aftet 
the other, and read the sentences of the prisoners. ' My joy wak 
extreme, when I h^ard tlhit my sentence was not to "be bumt« 
!>at to be a galley-sliKTe for five years. After the senteiices wer6 

12 

Digitized by CjOOgle 



134 Christian Researches. 

rather before mentioned witnessed the annual Au- 
to da Fe, from 1770 to 1775, **It was the hu- 
manity, and tender mercy of a good King," said 
the old Father, "which abolished the Inquisition.'' 
But immediately on his death, the power of the 
Priests acquired the ascendant, under the Queen 
Dowager, and the Tribunal was re-established, 
after a bloodless interval of five years. It has 
continued in operation ever since. It was restor- 
ed in 1779, subject to certain restrictions, the 
chief of which are the two following, "That a 
greater number of witnesses should be required 
to convict a criminal than were before necessary;'' 
and, "That the Auto da Ffe should not be held 
publicly as before; but that the sentences of the 
Tribunal should be executed privately, within the 
walls of the Inquisition." 

"In this particular, the constitution of the new 
Inquisition is more reprehensible than that of the 
old one; for, as the old Father expressed it, 'Nunc 

i^ead, they siimtnoncd forth those miserable victims who were 
destined to be immolated by the Holy Inquisition. The images 
of the heretics who had died in prison were brotight up at the 
same time, their bones being- contained in small chests, covered 
with'Qames and demons. An officer of the secular tribunal now 
Came forward, and seized these unliappy people, after they had 
«ach received a iltght blow upon the breast » from the Alcsude, to 
intimate that they were abandoned. They were then led away 
to the bank of the river, where th€ Vice-Roy and his Court were 
assembled, and where the faggots had been prepared the pre- 
ceding day. ' As soon as they arrive at this plape, the condemn- 
ed persons are asked in what religion they choose to die; and . 
Jhe moment they have replied to this question, the executioner 
seizes them, and binds them to a stake hi the midst of the fag- 
got?.. The day after the execution, the portraits of the dead 
,are ~ca!*ried tdthe Church of the Dominicans. The heads only 
are represented, (which are generally very accurately drawn; 
for the Inquisitiott keeps excellent limiiers for the purpose,) sur- 
rounded bv dames knd demons! and underneath is the name and 
Cirim0 of the person who has been btimed." 

Mation dt PInqumtion de Goa, chap, xxiv., 

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The Rommh Chrisiicms. IS3 

sigillum non revelat Inquisitio.' Formerly thie 
friends of those unfortunate persons who were 
thrown into its prison, bad the melancholy satis- 
faction of seeing them once a year \valking in the 
procession of the Auto da Fe; or if they were 
condemned to die, they witnessed their death, 
and mourned for the dead. But now they have 
no means of learning for years whether they be 
dead or alive.. The policy of this new code of 
concealment appears to be this, to preserve the 
power of the Inquisition, and at the same time to 
lessen the public odium of its proceedings, \tx the 
presence of British dominion and civilization. . 1 
asked the Father his opinioa concerning the na- 
ture ^nd frequenc)iof tike punishments within the 
walls. He said he possessed no certain means of 
giving a satisfactory answer; that every thing 
transacted ther^ was declared to be 'sacrum et 
s^cretum.' But this he knew to be true» that 
there were constantly captives in the dungeons; 
that some of them are liberated after long confine- 
ment, but that they never speak afterwards of 
what passed within the place, tie added that, of 
all the persons he had known, who had been liber- 
ated, he never knew on^ who did not carry about 
with him wliat might be called, 'the mark: of the 
Inquisition;' that is to say, who did not shW in 
the solen;mity of his countenance, or in his pecu- 
liiir demeanor, or his terror of the Priests, that he 
had been in that dreadful place. 

**The chief argument of the Inquisitor to prove 
the melioration of the Inquisition was the superior 
humanity of the Inquisitors. I remarked that I 
did not doubt the humanity of tl^e existing officers; 
but what availed humanity in an Inquisitor? he 



dbyGoogk 



136 Christian Besearches: 

must pronounce sentence according to the Lan^ 
of the Tribunal, which are notorious enough j and 
a relapsed Heretic must be burned in the Q^mes, 
or confined for life in a dungeon, whether the In- 
quisitor be humane or not. But if, said I, you 
would satisfy my mind completely on this sub- 
ject, ^shew me the Inquisition** He said it was 
not permitfcd to any person to see the Inquisition, 
I observed that mine might be considered as a 
•peculiai'case; that the character of the Inqmsition, 
and the expediency of its longer continuance had 
been called in question; that! had myself written 
on the civilization of India, and might possibly 
j)ublish something more upon that subject, and 
that it cduld not be exj^cted that I should pass 
over the Inquisition without notic^ knowing what 
I did of its proceedings; at the same time 1 should 
not wisli to state a single fact without his authtM^- 
ity, or at least his admis^sipn of its truth. 1 added 
that Be himself had been pleased to communicate 
with me very fully on the subject, arid that in ali 
pur discussions we had both been actuated, I hop- 
ed, by a ^ood purpose. The countenance of the 
Inquisitor evidently altered on receiving this inti*- 
mation, nor did it ever after wholly regaii^ its 
wontfed frankness and placidity. After some hes- 
ita(;ion, however, he said, he would take me with 
liim to the Inquisition the next day. I was a 
good deal surprised at this acquiescence of the In- 
quisitor, but I did not know what was in his mind. 
"Next morning after breakfast my host went 
io. dress for the Holy Office, and soon returned in 
his inquisitorial robe,s. He said he would goliaff 
an hour before tlie usual time for the purpose of 
i^ewing me tlie Inquisition. * The buildings are 



dbyGoogk 



The Romish Christicms. 137 

fibout a quarter rffa mile distant from the convent, 
and we proceeded thither in our Marijeels.^ On 
our arrival at the place, the Inquisitor said to me, 
as we were ascending the slepis of the outer stair, 
that he hoped I should be satisfied with a tiansient 
view of the Inquisition, and thai I would rt^tire 
whenever he should desire it. I took this as a 
good omen, and followed my conductomvith tol- 
erable confidence. (^ 

"He led me first to the Great Hall of the In- 
quisition. We were met at the door by a num- 
ber of well dressed persons, who, I afterwards un- 
derstood, were the familiars, and attendants of the 
Holy Office. They bowed very low to the In- 
quisitor, and looked with surprise at me. The 
Great Hall is the place in which the prisoners are 
marshalled for the procession of the Auto da Fe. 
At the procession described by Delfon, in which 
he himself walked barefoot, clothed with the painted 
garment, there were upwards of one hundred and 
fifty prisoners. I traversed this hall for 'some 
time, with a slow step, reflecting on its former* 
scenes, the Inquisitor walking by my side, in si- 
lence. I thought o^ the fate of the multitude of 
my fellow-creatures who hcid passed throu^gh this 
place, condemned by a tiibunal of their fellow- 
sinners, their bodies devoted to the flames, and 
their'souls to perdition; and I could not help 
saying to him, ** Would not the Holy Church 
wish, in her mercy, to have those souls back 

•The Manjecl is a kind of Palankeen common at Goa. It 19 
merely ar sea cot suspended from a bamCbo, /which is borne on Uie 
h^adt of four men Sometimes a footman runs before, having a 
staff in his hand, lo which are attached lillle belts or rings, 
which he' jingles a» he nms, keeping time with the aioUoii fidT < 
l|ie bearexs 

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138 Christian Researches, 

again^ that she might allow them a little further 
pr(3bation?'^ The Inquisitor, answered nothing-, . 
but beckoned me to go with him to a door at one 
end. of the hall. By this door he conducted me' 
to some small rooms, and thence to the spacious' 
apartments of the chief Inquisitor. Havhig sur- 
veyed thgse he brought me back, again to the 
Great Hall; and I thought he seemed now desir- 
ous that I should depart. "Now, Father," said 
I, "lead me to the dungeons below; I want to see 
the captives." •'No," said he, "that cannot be." 
I now began to suspect 'that it had been in the 
itiind of the Inquisitor, fro^i the beginning, to 
sih^w me only a .certain part of the Inquisition, in . 
the liope of satisfying my inquiries in a general 
way. I urged him with earnestness, but he stead- 
ily resisted, and seemed to be offended, or rathep 
agitated, by my importunity. I intimated to him 
plainly, that the only way to do justice to his own 
assertions and arguments regarding the present 
State of the Inquisition^ was to show m« the pris» 
ons and the paptives. I should then describe on- 
ly what I saw; but now the subject was left ia 
iwful obscurity. "Lead me down," said I, "to 
the inner building, and let me pass through the • 
^wo hundred dungeons, ten feet square, described 
by your former captives. Let me count the 
number of your present captives, and conversed 
with them. I want to see if there he any subjects 
of the British Government, to whom we owe 
protection. I want to ask how long they huve 
been here, how loiig it is since they beheld the 
light of the sun, and whether they ever e;^ct 
io me it agtm* -Shew me the^ Chamber ' of Tor*^ 
ture^ Qud declare what mode^ of execution or ot 

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The Romish Christiana. 13f 

punishment, are now practised within the walls of 
the Inquisition, in lieu of the public Auto da Fe. 
If, after all diat has passed, Father, you resist this 
reasonable request, I shall be justified in believ- 
ing, that you are afraid of exposing the real state 
of the Inquisition in India.** To these observa* 
tions the Inquisitor made no reply; but seemed 
impatient that I should withdraw. **My good 
Father,'^ said I, *'I am about to take my leave of 
you and to thank you for your hospitable at t^n- 
tions, (it had been before understood that I should 
tafte my final leave ai the door of the Inquisition^ 
after having seen the interior,) and I wishalwaya 
to preserve on my mitid a fcivorable sentiment of 
your kindness and candor. You cannot, you say^ 
shew me the captives and the dungeons; be pleas^ 
ed then merely to answer this question; for I shall 
believe your word: How many prisoners are there 
now below, in the cells of the Inquisition?** The 
Inquisitor replied, "That is a question which I 
ovnnot answer.** On his pronouncing these 
words, I retired hastily towards the door, and 
wished him farewell. We shook hands with as 
much cordiality as we could at the moment as- 
sume; and both of us, I believe, were sorry that 
our parting took place with a clouded counte- 
nance, 

"Frona the Inquisition I went to the place ol 
burning in the Campo Santo LazarOy on the river 
side, where the victims were brought to the stake 
at the Auto da Fe. It is close to the palace, tbaA 
&e Vice-Roy and his Court may witness the ex^^ 
ecution; for it ha^ever been the policy of the Iiv^ 
qui^ition to make these spiritual executions ap-^ 
pear to be th^ executions of the State. An oJkl 

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140 Christian Researches. 

Priest accompanied me, who pointed out the place 
and described the scene. As I passed over thi^ 
melancholy plain, I thought on the difference be- 
tween the pure and benign doctrine, which was 
first pfeached to India in the Apostolic age, and^ 
that bloody code, which, 'after. a long night of 
darkness, was announced to it, under the same 
name! And I pondered on the mysterious dispen- 
sation, whiqh permitted the rhrnisters of the In- 
quisition, with their racks and flames, to visit these 
laiKls, before the heralds of the Gosj^el of Peace. 
But the most painful reflection was, that this tw- 
buual should yert exist, unawed by the vicinity of 
British humanity and dominion. I was not satis- 
fied with what I had seen or said at the Inquisi- 
tion, and I determined to go back again. The 
Inquisitors were now sitting on the tribunal, aiKl 
I had some excuse for returning; for I was to rcr 
ceive from the chief Inqi;iisitor a letter which he 
said he would give me, before I left the place, for 
the British Resident in Trav^ncore, being anai\- ' 
swer to a letter from that officer. 

*^ When I arrived at the Inquisition, arid had ' 
ascended the outer stairs, the door teepers sur- 
veyed me doubtingly, but suffered me to pass, 
supposing that Ihad retunied by permission and 
appointment of the Inquisitor. I entered the 
Great Hall, and went up directly towards the tri- 
bunal of the Inquisitioji, ^escribed by Dellon, in 
which is the lofty Crucifix. I sat down on,a form, 
arid \Vrote some notes; and then desired one of 
the attendants to carry in my name to the Inquis- 
itor. As I walked up the Hall, I saw a poor 
woman sitting by herself, on a benclvby the wall, 
aj)parently in a disconsolate state of mind. She ' 

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The Bonmh ChriaHans. 441 

elapsed her bandsaslpa^ed, and gave me a look 
expressive of her distress. This sigljt chUled my 
spirits. The fapniliars told me ihe was waiting 
tht*re to. be called up before the tHbunal of tte 
Inquisition. While I was asking questions con* 
ceming her crime, the second Inquisitor came 
out in evident trepidation, and was about to com- 
{dain of the intrusion; when I informed him I had 
come bacfk for the letter from the chief Inquiston 
He satd it should be sent after me to Goa; and 
he conducted* me with a quick step towards the 
door. As we passed the poor woman, I pointed 
te her, and said with some emphasis^ **Behold, 
Father, another victiin of the holy Inquisition'!?' 
He answered nothing. When we arrived at Ae 
bead of the great stair, he bowed, and I^ook raiy 
last leave of Josephus a D<rforibus,^vrithout titter- 
ing a word.^' . ^ V 

The foregoing particulars concerning the Inqui- 
sition at Goa are detailed chiefly with this view; 
that the English nation may consider, whether 
there be sufficient ground for presenting a remom 
strance to the Portuguese (jrovetilment, on the 
longer continuance of that tribunal In. Iiidiaj it 
being notorious, that a great part of the Romish 
Christians are now under British protectioi^. **The 
Ilomans," says Montesquieu, "d^sierved w^ll olF 
human nature Tor making it an article in their trea* 
ty with the Carthaginians, that they should abstairi 
from sACRiFiciNO their children to theii* 
geds.^* It han been lately observed by respfectafble 
^Titers, that the Englbh nation ought to imitate 
this example^ and endeavor to jnduce her allies 
**tG abolish the human sacrifices of the Ihquisi- 

• ' Digitized by LjOOQIC 



142 OirisHem Bfi$earchm. 

tion;" and a censure is passed on our Govern- 
ment for their indifference to this .subject.* The 
indifference to the. Inquisition i^ attributable, \ye 
believe, to the same cause which- has produced an 
iudiffeience to the religious principles which firsft 
organized the Inquisition. The mighty Despot, 
who suppressed the Inquisition in Spain was uot 
swayed probably by very powerful motiv(^s of 
humanity; but viewed with jealousy a tribunal, 
'^hicb usurped an independent dominion, and h^ 
put it down, on the same principle that he put 
down the Popedom, that he might remain Pontiff 
and Grand inquisit9r himself. And so he will re* 
main for a time, till the purposes of Providence 
shall hay^ been accomplished by him. But are we 
to look lOp in. sitenci^ and to expect that further 
jmelipj^tio^in human society are^to Ipe effecteij 
by despotism, or by great revolutions? "If,'* s^ 
the same authors, "while the Inquisition is de- 
stroyed b Europe by the power of despotism, we 
could entertain the hope, and it is not too much 
to entertain such a hope, tliat the powef of liberQr 
is about to destroy it in America; we rnight even, 
amid the gloom that surrounds us congratulate 
our fellqw-crcatures on one pf the most remarka- 
ble, periods in the history of the progress of human 
soQiety, the final erasure of the Inquisition 
Jhom. the ffice of the eartL^'^\ It. will indeed be 
^important and happy day to the earth, when 
fhis final er^^ure shall lake place; but the period 
pf such an event Js nearer, I apprchen^l, in Eu- 
ropc^nd Ameriija, |ban it is in ^aiaj-anjJ its ter- 
ipinatipiv^n .Asia depiendsasniach on Great Brkr 

^JStiiVi. ^eww, No, xxxii. p. 429.. flbid. 



dbyGoogk 



The Itbmish Christians, 143 

aln as on Portugal. And shall not Great Brjtaih do 
her part to hasten this desirable tinu? iJo we wait 
as if to see whether the power of Infidelity will 
abolish the other Inquisitions of the earth? Shall 
not we, in the mean while, attempt to do some- 
thing, on Christian print iples for the honor of God 
and of humanity? Do we dread even to ex])ress a 
sentiment on the subject in our legislative Asseni- 
bties, or to notice it in our Treaties? It is iiurely 
our duty to declare our wishes, at least, for the 
abolilion.of these inhuman tribunals (since we take 
an active part in pronjoting the welfare of other 
nations,) and to deliver our testimony against 
them in the presence of Europe. 

This case is not Unlike that of the Immolation 
of Females; with this aggravation in regard to 
the latter, that the rite is perpetrated in oar own 
territories. Our humanity revolts at the occa- 
sional description of the enormity; but the mat- 
ter comes not to our own business and bosoms, 
abd we fail even to insinuate our disapprobation 
of the deed. It may be concluded then, that 
while we remain silent and unmoved spectators 
of the flames of the Widow's Pile, there is no 
hope that we shall be justly affected by the 
reported horrors 6f the Inquisitfon, 



TRANSLATIONS OF THE SCRIPTURES 
FOR THE ROMISH CHRJSTIANS. 

The princi{^ languages spoken by the Romish 
CJhristians in India are these four; the Tamul, 
the Malabar, the Ceylonese, and the Portuguese, 
The Author has already had occasion to notice 

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144 Chrisliim Reaem^hm^ 

the three first. The Tamul version has been 
long sincenjompleted by the Prmestant Missiona- 
ries; and the Malabar and the Ceylonese are in 
cours^ of publieation. It is now proper to ex- 
plain, that excellent effects raay be expected from 
the diffusion of the Portuguese Scriptures in In- 
dia, The Portuguese Lariguage prevails where- 
ever there are, or have beeriy settlements of that 
nation. Their descendants people the coasts 
from the vicinity of the Cape of Good Hope to 
the Sea of China; beginning from Sofala, Mo- 
caranga, Mosambique, (where there is a Bishop,) 
Zinzebar, apd Melinda, (where there are many 
Churches,) on the East. of Africa; and extend- 
ing round by Babelmandel, Diu, Surat, Damon, 
Bombay, Goa, Calicut, Cochin, Angengo, Tute- 
corin, Negapatim, Jaffn^patam, Columbo, Point 
de Galle, Tranquebar, Tanjore, Tritchinopoly, 
Porto-Novo, Pondicherry, Sadras, Madras^ Masu- 
lipatam, Calcutta, Chinsurah, Bandel, Chittagong, 
Macao, and Canton; and almost all the islands of 
the Malay-an Archipelago, which were first con- 

Juered by the Portuguese. The greater part of the 
Wtuguese in India are now subjects of the Brit- 
ish Empire. The Author visited most of the places 
above enumerated; ai>d in many of them he 
CQuld not hear of a single comr of tiie Portuguese 
Scriptures. Thiere is a Portuguese Prej^ at 
Tranquebar, and another at Vespery near Madras; 
and^pccuniary aid only is wanted from Europe 
to multiply copies and to circulate them round 
Ae coasts of Asia. The^ Portuguese l«anguage 
is ce;rtainly a most favorable medium for dimising 
the true jreligion in the maritime provineeft of ttie 
'^st. *^ 

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re^p^ding ihe Persians. 145 



THE COLLEGES AT QOA. 

Go A will probably remain the theological school 
to a great part of India, for a long period ao 
come It is of vast importance to the interests 
of Christianity in the East, that this sotirce of 
instruction should be purified. The appointed in- 
strument for efifecting this, is tiie Bible. This is 
"the salt which must t)e thrown into the fountain 
to heal the waters."* There are upwards of 
three thousand Priests belonging to,Goa, who 
are resident at the place, or stationed with their 
cures at a distance. Let us send the Holy Scrip- 
tures to illuminate the Priests of Goa. It-^as 
distinctly expressed to the Author, by several 
authoi ities, that they would gladly receive copies 
of the Latin and Portuguese Vulgate Bible from 
the hand^ of the English nation. 



THE PERSL\NS. 

The Ciiristian Religion flourished very generalljr 
in Per ia till about a. d. 651; when, thePt-rsians 
being subdued by the Saracens, Mahomedanism 
gradually acquired the predominance. Constan- 
fiiiejhe Great, addressed a letter to Sapor, King 
of Persia, which is preserved to this day, recom- 
tnemling the Christian Churches in hb dotninions, 
to his protection; attd a Bishop from Persia was 
present at die Council of Nice in a. i^. 325. It 
appears also that there was a translaticm of some 
portkHi of the Scriptures into, the Pelrfiian Lan« 
.« • 

" ■* Digitized by Google 



146 Christian JResearclies 

»iage at that period; for we are infoi'med by 
Chrysostom that "the Persians, having translated 
the doctrines of the Gospel into their own tongue, 
had learned, though barbarians, the true philoso- 
phy;"* and it is stated by apother author in the 
following century, **That the Hebrew writings 
were not only translated into the Greek, but into 
the Latin, Ethiopian, Persian^ Indian, Armenian, 
Scythian, an^ Sarmatian Languages.^t 

In the beautiful homily of Chrysostom on Ma- 
-Ty*s Memorial, preached about a. d. 380, in 
which he^ enumerates those najtions, who, in ful- 
filment of our Savior's prophecy, had "spoken of 
the deed of Mary for a memorial of her," he 
mentions the Persians first, and the Isles oi Britain 
last. **The Persians, Indians, Scythians, Thracians, 
Sarmatians, the race of the Moors, and the inhabit- 
ants of the British Isles, celebrate a deed perform- 
ed in a private family in Judea by a woman that had 
been a harlot, Jpouring an alabaster box of spikenard 
Qn the head of Clu:ist,"therebj^ ackngwledging him, 

•Chrysostom, Horn, ii, in Johan. 

fTheodoret, vol. iv, p* 555. We.ha^'e entirely lost sigbtpf 
ftopne of these versions in the obscurity of Mahomedan darkness. 
It is not even known what languages are intended by the, Sty* 
ihiarit Indian, and Sarmatian, The- Christian Church must now 
retrace her steps, and endeavor to recover a knowledge which 
she has lost^ 

ag l^Vi^ovq oiiAOXJVTBQj, To sv Isiuiu yevoijuevov Aa6{«, ev 
Chrys. Horn. Ixxxi, in Matth. 

The argument of Chrysostom is tins, that nothing could have 

S'ven so permanent a celebrity to so private an occurrence, but 
e Divine Word of Hih who foretold it. He supposes the 
woman to have been Mary Magdalenej but probably ff|| 
Mary» the sister of Martha, ^ 

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respecting the Persians. 147 

while yet upon eanh, as God^s an.ointed King 
and embalming his body, (as our Lord himself 
explained it) in anticipation of his burial; con- 
cerning which act of faith and love he uttered 
the following prophetic declaration: "Verily, I 
say unto you. Wheresoever this Gospel shall be 
preached throughout the whole world, xHis also , 
that she hath done shall be spoken of for a ikE- 
MORiAL of her," Mark xiv, 9. The Isles of 
Britain are now. the^r^^ to restore this memorial^ 
and the Gospel which recites it, to the Persians- 
as well as to other Mahomedan nations, who were 
to lose it generally, during the great prophetic 
period of 1260 years. 

A version of tiie four Gospels into the Persian 
Language of a former a^e remains to this day. 
It is a faithful translation, and seems to have 
been made immediately from the Syriac;* but the 
dialect and orthography are so ancient as to be 
scarcely intelligible even at Isfahan. The Romish 
Church has had several Missions in the kingdom 
of Persia for some centuries past. The Augus- 
tinian Mission from Goa commenced in the year 
1602, "and was permitted by Sultan Murad to 
build convents in all parts of the Empire, "f But 
they went into Persia4 as into other countries, not 
with the design of instructing men in the holy 
Scriptures, but of teaching them the tenets and 
ceremonies of Rome. To this day, they have not 
published, under all the advantages of toleration 
which they enjoyed, a translation of the Bible, or 
even of the New Testament, into the Persian 
Language. 



•This is the Version of the Polyglot. 
fFabricii Lux Evang, p. 639. 



d by Googk 



148 Christian Researches 

It is a reproach to Christians, that tlie only 
endeavor to produce a translation of the Scriptures^ 
into the language of that extensive kingdom 
ahould have been made by the Persians them* 
selves. The representatives of the Christian 
Churches in Europe, of every denomination, may 
well blush, when they read the following authen* 
tic relation of an attempt made by a Persian King^ 
to procure a knowledge of our religion. 

"Towards the close of the year 1740, Nadk 
Shah caused a translation of the four Evangeli^: 
to be made into Persian. The affair was put un-^ 
der the direction of Mirsra Mehdee, a man oi 
some learning, who, being vested wiith proper au* 
thorityfor the purpose, summoned several Arm^n- 
\an Bishops, and Priests, together with divers 
Missionaries of the Romish Church, and PersiaQ 
MuUahsf to meet him at Isfahan. As to the lat- 
ter, the Mahomedan Priests, they could not be 
gainers, ^nce the change of religion, if any, was 
to be in prejudice of Mahomedanism. Besides, 
Nadir's conduct towards them had been severe, 
to an extreme and unprecedented decree; many 
of them therefore gave Mirza Mehdee lai^ 
bribes to excuse their absence. Amcwig the 
• Christians summoned on this occasion, only one 
Romish Priest, a native of Persk, was a sufficient 
master of the language to enter upon a work of 
so critical a nature. As to the Armenian Chris- 
tians, although they are born subjects to Persia^ 
and intermixed with the inhabitants, yet are there 
very few of them who understand the lai^uage 
fundamentally. It was natural to expect that 

-^Mahomedan Prie^U* 

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respedmg the Persiam: 14t 

Mifza' Mehdee, and the Persian Mullahs, would 
l)e niore solicitous to please Nadir, and to support 
the credit of Mahomedanism, than to divest them- 
selves of prejudices, and become masters of s6 
important a subject. This translation was dress- 
ed up with all the glosses which the fables of the 
Koran could warrant. Their tihief guide was an 
ancient limbic and Persian translation. Father 
de Vignes, a Romish Priest, was also employed 
in this work, in which he made use of the Vul- 
gate edition. They were but six months in Qom** 
pletingtliis translation, arid transcribing several 
fair copies of it. 

"In May following, Mirzra Mehdee with 4her 
Pd'sian Mullahs and some of the Christian Priest* 
set out from Isfahan for the Persian Court, which 
was then held in encampment near Tcheraai. 
Nadir received them with some marks of civility, 
and had a cursory view of the performance. Some 
part of it was read to him; on which occasion he 
made several ludicrous remarks on the mysteri- 
ous parts of the Christian Religion; at the same 
time he laughed at the Jews, and turned Mahom* 
€d and Ali equnlly into ridicule. And after" 
some expressions of levity, intimating that he , 
could himself make a better religion than any* 
that had yet been produced, **he dismissed these 
churchmen and translators with some small pres- 
ents, not equal ia value ta the expense dhthe 
journey."* \ 

This version of the Gospels, prepared by corti- 
liiadd of Nadir Shah, is probably the same witfr 
that which is sometimes found in the hai^ids of the 



*H4i) way's TraYelu. 



dbyGoogk 



1^ Christiun Beeearcke0 

Armenian Priests in India. A ooj^ was lattljT 
shewn to an Oriental scholar in Bengal,* who ob- 
served, "tliat if this was the same, Ite did not 
wonder at Nadir's contempt of it." 

The number of natives already professing Chris* 
tianity in Persia, and who are prepat:ed to receive 
a translation of the Scriptures, is very consider- 
able. They consist of four or five cksses, viz. the ^ 
the Georgian, the Armenian, the Nestorian, the 
Jacobite, said the Romish Christians. The Geor- 
gians have the Bible in the Georgian Langu^e, 
which was printed at Moscow in 1743; but tte 
language is not so generally cultivated am<mg the 
hi^er ranks as the Persian. It probably bears the 
same relation to the Persian, which the Welsh 
does to the English. The Armenians have a ver- 
sion of the Bible in their own proper tongue, but- 
the copies are few in number. The Nestorian 
and Jacobite Christians use the Syriac Bible: but 
it is yet more rare than the Armenian. There are; 
besides, multitudes of Jews in Persia, who, as wdl 
as these different classes of Christians, comnKMJy 
speak the vernacular language of the coamtry. 

The Persian Language is known far beyond the 

limits of Persia proper. It is spoken at all tte 

• Mussulman Courts in India, and is th&^ usual lan«* 

giage of judicial proceedings under the British 
overnment in Hindostan. It is next in impor* 
tance to the Aral^c and Chinese, in regajKlto the 
extent of territory throu^ which it is spoken, be* 
ing generally understood from Caloutta toDamas* 
cus. 

Here then is a language, s^ok^n oyer nearly? 
one quarter of the globe, the proper tongue of a 

•JSitY. H. Martyn. 

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r^fteolm^ {be P^amms. 15| 

great kingdom, in which un attempt has already 
been made by royal authority to obtain a transia* 
ticMi-of the Christian Scriptures; and where there 
are^ at a low computation, two hundred thouaaiKl 
Christians ready to receive them. Many of the 
Persians themselves would read the Bible with 
avidity, if presented lo ttem in an inviting form* 
Tht cause of the little jealouby of Christianity in 
Persia, compared with that which is found in 
other Mahomedan States, is to be ascribed to 
these two circumstances; first. That Christianity 
has always existed in Persia: the Christian na* 
tivcs formmg a considerable part of the p9pula<^ 
tion; and secondly, That the Persians themsel^ 
profess so lax a system of Islamism that they 
have been accounted by some Mussulmans a 
kind of heietics. 

It will form an epoch in the histCM-y of Persia, 
when a version of tbe Old and New Testaments 
shall begin to be known generally in that coim* 
try. But the narrative of Nadir Shah's attempt 
sufficiently proves that no ordinary scholar is 
qualified to undertake it. The author of such a 
translation musl^ be a perfect master of the Arabic 
Language, the mother of the Persic, and familiar 
widi the popular and classical Persian. He must^ 
moreover, have access to the Scriptures in their 
orig^foa/ tongues. Such a person, we think, has 
been found in Sab at of Arabia, whp is account- 
ed by competent judges, "to be the first Arabic 
sebcdar of the age."* He has been employed 
for neariy four years past in translating the Scrip* 

•See, Hpfi^rt'of Trmnitition^ bj H&i. Henry Mwtjn, hereaft^ 
quoted. 



dbyGoogk 



15£ dm^an Resem^kes 

tures into the Persian and Arabic Languages, in 
conjunction with Mirza Filrut of Lucknovy, and 
other learned natives. Mirza is himself a Per^ 
sian by descent, and a man of liberal leamiiig 
among his countrymen. Qe visited England 
some years ago, and was afterwards appointed a 
Persian teacher, and a translator of the Scriptures 
in the College of Fort- William. These versions 
by Sabat and Mirza, are conducted under the 
superintendance of the Rev4jHenry Martyn, who 
is himself an. Arabic and Persian scholar, and 
billed in the original tongues of the Sacred 
Scriptures. He is a chaplain to the Honorable thq 
"E^st India Company, and is now stationed at 
Cawnpore in Bengal, where his learned coadju* , 
tors also reside. The Gos^ls of St Matthew 
and St. LukO) translated by Sabat in.to the Per- 
sian Language^ have already been printed; and 
600 copies are. stated in the last Bfeport^ dated 
May 1810, to have been deposited in the Bibljc-^ 
OTHJECA BiBLicA, at Calcutta/ for salc ^ 



THE ARABIANS. 

Arabia was the country in which St. Paul first 
opened his heavenly ministry. *'When it pleased 
God," saiththat Apostle, "who called me by his 

grace, to reveal his Son in me, that I might preach 
im among the heathen; immediately I conferred 
not with flesh and Mood; neither went I up to Je- 
rusalem^ but I went into Arabia," Gal. i, 17«. 
Christianity flourished very extensively in Arabia,, 
during the first centuries. Histoqr informs us, 
th^ ^^tbe disciples of Christ had filled its proving 



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by Google ^ 



respecting the jiNibkms. 15$ 

!B€« ^fi the Churches of God;''* and freqitcwt 
bu'ivtion is made, in the early in6miments^of the 
Bishops of Arabia.f This early influence of th« 
Goq>el in that region might be expected; for 
Arabia adjoins Palestine; and the climate of the 
Gontitry, and the mannersand customs of the peo* 
I^e, are nearly the san^. J 

There are some circmnstances which i«marka* 
bly distinguish Arabia; a recollection of wMch, in 
connexion with others, ought now to draw our at* 
teiition toit. Arabia was inhabited by tbe first gen» 
erations of men* There it pleased the Creator 
first to revesd himsetf to his creatures; and in its 
vicinity the Son of God assumed the hutnan la- 
tere, la Arabia,' the faeukies of the human mind 
irttain to as high a degree of strength aod vigor^ 
even at thiia day, i as in any other country in the 

^Qecv yctf Ennh^ffita^^ Oi Hft^ov imbfirtci rag %«aj«y 
tmJTitg eiFhviqaiireiV. Procofiiua Qaz. Eh. xi, 14. 

f See tb^ enumerated in Beveridge's Canones Conctliorwni. 
The Bishop of Butorah was present at the Council of Aniioch in 
A. D. 269. 

Being neighbors to the Jews, it was likely that they should 
first receive the Gospel, Proc. ubi supra. 

§See Letter from the Rev- Henry Maptyn, concerning Sahat, 
quoted m "The Star in the East," p. 218. ** At intervals I read 
JPersian Poetry with Mirza, and the £^oran with Sabat. Tliesc 
Orientals, with whom I translate the Scriptures, require pe to 
point out the connexion between every two sentences, which is 
frften mote than 1 can do. It is curious how. accurately they 
observe all the rules of writing. Sabat, though a real Christian, 
has not lost a jot of his Abrabian notions of superiority He 
\ooka upon Europeans as mushrooms; and seems to regard my 
pretensions to any learning,* as we should regard those of a sav- 
age or an ape." N". B Mr. MaHyn was Senior Wrangler, or 
first MathcmaticTian of his year, at Cambridgej in 1801 1 and he 
kad now been two year^ in loci^ty with Sabat. 



dbyGoogk 



164 Christian Researches 

world; and the syrnmetry and beauty of the hu- 
man person in Arabia are not surpassed by atijr 
other portion of the human race.f 

Arabia is also cemarkable on another account. 
It was the theatre of the grand defection from 
Christianity, by the Mahomedan delusion, which 
was to extend, to "a third part of men/' Thfs 
predicted apostasy was to be effected, not by re. 
turning to Paganism, but by a corruption of Chris- 
tianlty; that is, by admitting some part of the 
former revelation of God, and pretending to a new 
revelation. The delusion itself is aptly compared 
ih the prophecy concerning \t, to ^^smoke issuing 
from the bottomless pit;" and its great extent is 
expressed by its "darkening the sun and the airJ*^ 
And 'since this defection was to be produced 6y 
a corruption of revealed Truth, it was necessary 
that the Scriptures should be first corrupted; iat 
where the genuine Scriptures are in the hands of 
men, there is little danger of general% infidelity.* 
Accordingly, this^ preparative for the great Im^ 
posture tpdc place in thf fifth and sixth centuries; ' 
During that period, corrupt and apbcryphal gas- ' * 
pels prevailed so generally in Arabia and in the 

fAn intelligent Arabian, >Vho had seen the Eiiglish in India, 
•bserved to the Author, that he tliought the minds of the Eng- 
•lish far superior to their persona. It seemed to him, that there 
was nothing striking or noble in the English countenance^ compar- 
ed with th^ dignity and beauty of the Arabians; that thefaccft. 
■were in general flat and torpid, and the eyes without lire. The 
Author informed him, that the English were composed of differ- 
«nt nations, arid most of these from cold and northern climates*. 1 
that hence there was a great diversity in their appearance, some ; 
being of very ordinary aspect, add others of a dignity and beauty * 
^bich even an Arabian would admire, 
•Rev ix, a. 



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M 



respecting the Arabians. 155 

neighboring regions, that it is even doubtful 
whether Mahomed himself ever saw a genuine 
copy of the New Testament. • It has been argu- 
ed by learned men^ from the interval evidence of 
his composition, that he did not. But now even 
tfie apocryphal gospels have vanished from view, 
by the long prevalence of the Koran. 

But the duration of this delusion wais to have 
a limit. "The smoke wastodarkeihthe sun'aud 
the air" only for a definite period. This period 
is expressed in prophetic Scripture in a threefold 
formof vjrordsto evince its certainty. 

1. "The Holy City shall they tread under 
foot forty and two months'^* Rev. xi, 2. This 
marks the period of the Mahomedan power. Th6 
safne expression is applied afterwards to the dura- 
tion of the Papal power. The depression of the 
true Faith was of course to lasttlie same time; as 
expressed in*the two fallowing sentences. 

2. "The Witnesses (for the true Faith) shall 
prophecy a thousand two hundred and threescore 
days^ clothed in sackcloth.'^f Rev. xi, 3. 

3. "The Woman (or Church of Christ) fled in- 
to the wilderiiess, and was nourished for a time^ 
times, and half a time.^^X ^^^^ ^ii, 14. 

This last expression, "a time, times, and half a 
time," is also used by the prophet Daniel, who 
foretels the same events, to niai^ the period when 
God shall "have, accomplished to scatter the 
power of the holy people,'' and shall terminate 
his indignation against Israel. * Dan« xii, 7. 

•A dav for a year; 

42 moiith8=^i2 X 30=12^0 days , , . .=1250 years.- 

fA d:i> for a year; l?6v) ilit>8 - . . . , wl.iO years. 

^A :im. times* andUatf a dm*-"*' vear,> 
two ,('418 and h;!f of a }eai""torty v««l260ycarg* 
%W9 inoiith»5»12oo day* . . f . • . . > D^gfeedbyC^oogle 



15< Ckn$Han ResemrhM 

h is very well knqwn in the East at what 
time Mahomed appeared. Let :lhe Mahomedan 
then be informed, that he is to count 1260 years 
from the Hejira, and then expect the fulfilment of 
a remarkable Prophecy, nfade by Christ, whom 
the Koran acknowledges to be *'a true Prophet," 
Let him be informed explicitly, that the reign of 
Mahomt Aaism willthen have an end. And if 
he be unwilling to believe this, ask him if he does 
not already perceive the decline of Mahomedan- 
ism*. If he be ignorant of ihis fact, inform hnn 
of the history of events. Instruct him, that the 
corruption of Christianity in the West by the 
Pope, was coeval with the corruption of Chris- 
tianity" in the East by Mahomed; that the decKne 
of both these powers, is, at this time,, equally ad- 
vancedr and that the fell of both is to be contem- 
poraneous. If he be ignorant of the declii're of 
Papal Rome, the Roman Catholic in the East will 
declare it to him. 

Is there any man, calling himself a Christian, 
who thinks that these prophecies are dubioJils? 
If it be true that God hath, at any time, revealed 
himself to man, tliey are most certain. The Au- 
thor would here observe, that the inatteiltioii (rf 
me;i iri general to the fulfilment of the Divine 
predictions, does no proceed so commonly fi^om 
principles of infidelity as from ignorance of J^s; 
pure ignorance of historical facts. There are 
men of Kbeial education in England, who' arc 
more ignorant of the histoiy of the world, anciem 
and modern, in connexion with the revelation of 
Godf than some Hindoos and Arabians, whoiti we 
know in the East, who have not been Cllris- 
tians above a few years. Our Savior reprehended 

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Hfipeding the Atahims. ^ 157 

this neglect of "the words spoken from heaven'* 
in these words; "Ye cad<fiscem the face of the 
sky and of the earth; but how b it that ye can- 
not discern THIS TIME? Luke xii, 56. 

ITie Author has noticed the foregoing circum- 
stances in connexion with Arabia, to illustrate 
the importance of preparing a version of the 
Scriptures for that country, at the present era. 
But the Arabic Language hath gone forth farj^e- 
yond the bounds of Arabia^ and is known to al- 
most "a third part of men*' in the East. 1^ 
Korap has consecrated it in the eyes of millions, 
in central Asia, on die continent of Africa, and in 
the isles of the Indian Ocean. 

A version of the whole Bible in Arabic ha^ 
come down to us; but it is now. antiquated, like 
the Persian, both in dialect and orthography^ It 
does not appear that any composition in a living 
language, of a higher date than about five hun- 
dred years, can be of popular use, unless we 
learn it from our infancy. The language of our 
pwn Scriptures becomes now peculiar in many 
respects, and distinct from the popular speech, ft 
is supposed, that the Arabic Translation is up- 
wards of a thousand ye^s old. Had there been 
no interruption in the profession of Christianity 
in Arabia^ the ancient Translation might pos- 
sibly have sufficed, in like manner as the Hebrew 
is still understo9d by the Jews, and the Syriac by 
the Syrian Christians. But when a new teligion 
is to be. proposed to a people, we must use the 
most dignified medium, and present it in the 
. language which is in popular use. The present 
Arabic Translation in tli« Polyglot is perfectly in- 
telligible to those who will studv it with a lexjt- 
U 

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I^S ' Christian Researches 

eon; but we certainly cannot o&r it at this time 
as 9onveying the naeaning of the Christmn 
Scriptures to the Land of Yemen, or Arabia the 
Happy. 

Soon after Sabat, the Arabjan, Hhd been con- 
verted to Christianity,* the object which chiefly 
occupied his thoughts, was a translation of the 
Scriptures for his native country. He himself 
could easily read and .understand the existing 
translation; for he is tf learned man, and ac- 
quainted radically with every dialect of the lan- 
guage; and it was by means of that translation 
that he himself became a Christian;-!: but he says 
be should be ashamed to offer the Bible to his 
countrymen in its present form; suQh a version 
would neither be acceptable to the learned, nor 
intelligible to the unlearned. 

This noble Arabian has been now three years, 
to more, employed in translating the Scriptures 
into the Arabic Language, with the aid of other 
learned Asiatics, under the, superintendance of 
the Rev. H, Martyn, who has himself been long 
a student of the Arabic Tongue. Mr. Martyn 
has lately stated their reasons for undertaking a 
new trai^tion, which the Author will here sul>- 
join, in deference to the learned at home, who 
map think some further explanation necessary, 

♦See an account of his conversion in the "Star in the East,** 
fThe copy of the New Testament which Ml into the hancUi of 
Sahat» vras one of the edition published in 1727 ky <*the Society 
for promoting Christian Knowledge/* revised by Salomon Neg^L 
Ah investment of tliese Arabic Testaments, was sent about 1759, 
'to the Society^a Missionariies in Calcutta* ^ho circulated them 
through diflferent provinces. The following is a vrell attested 
fact: They sent some copies to the Mahomedan Priests at Del- 
hi, who "requested that the mpply might he Gifllliraedi'* See 
Pi-oceedings.of the Society of that period. 

- *> 

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respecting the jirahidns. 1^ 

**Of the Arabic version of the Polyglot, the late 
professor Garlyle, in his copy ^6f Proposals f(tf 
printihg a new edition of it, speaks in the highest 
terms, and observes, that it was used both by 
Jews and Christians as a faithful and elegant re- 
presentation of their respective books of faith, 
feut even supposing that both JeWs^nd Chris* 
tians are satisfied with the translation, no one, 
'who has had an opportunity of observing the 
degraded state tf these j)eople in the East, would 
admit them as competent Judges of the Arabid. 
The professor has adduced, in fayofr of the ver- 
sion in question, the opinions of Erpenius, Ga- 
Jbriel Siouita, and Pocock; nfames of high con- 
sideration in Arabic leariiing, particularly tHe 
Igst. It is certain, however, that such of the Mit- 
libmedaiis as have seen this version, think very 
(jMferently of it. If we would invite the fastidi- 
^ ous Mussulman to review the sacred law which 
'he supposes abrogated, let us not neglect our 
present opportunities; but, with such an instru* 
liient a§ Sabat ia our possession, fetus attempt 
^t least, to send forth the Scriptures in a style 
wrhich shall command respect^ even in Nujed aid 
Hejaz/' ' 

Mr. Martyn adverts p> the new edition ; of t^e 
Pqlyglot translation, now publishing in England, 
under the patronage of the Bishop of I>urhain> 
and high^ly commends, the desigp. "We rejoice,'* 
Writes he, "to hear that the old Pdyglot is going 
forth at last in a new dreas. It may be, useful to 
/ sQn^e in Asia, as it was to Sabat." ^ And, in re- 
gard to the extent of country through which the 
Arabic js spoken, Jie observes, that the Arabic 
translation is of more importance than one fourth 



dbyGoogk 



4 JftO . , jGirtsf^an Researches 

of all the trandatipnjs now in hand.- "WewUI 
begin,'* says he, ^'lo preach to Arabia, Syria, 
Persia, Tartary, part of India and of China, half 
of Africi^, all the sea-coast of the Mediterranean 
and Turkey; aiid ;qne tongue shall suffice for 
ihemall." 

The proposal for publishing the Arabic Bible 
has already met with a very liberal patronage in 
India. It is inteoded to publish an .edition of the 
New Testtj^ment, an a splendid form, for the use of 
llie chief men i^ Arabia**apd Persia, resembling, 
as nearly as possible, their own beautiful writing. 
The Universipc$, and literary bodies in Europe, 
wiU, no dou^t, be disposed to subscribe fur some 
eopies of .thi^ truly classical Work. It is stated 
in the last -accounts, dated May I8IO, that the 
translation pf the New Testament was expected 
to be finished l?y the en^ <?f the present ye^, 

,x8iju ' : : 



THE ARABIC SCHOOL 

... ' FOR TJIE. 

TRANSLATION OF THE SCRIPTURES. 

TiiE Rev. Henry Martyn, B. D. Fellow of St. 
Jbhn'sCoHege,Cambridge,iventout to India about 
five yenrs ago. His qualifications for die general 
supcriiitendance of scriptural trandation, are truly 
^respectable. After acquiring the highest academ- 
ical honors in science, and 9 just celebrity for 
classical knowledge, he devoted himself to the 
acquirement pf the Arabic and Hindostanee Lan- 
guages. His mind was strongly impressed at mv 



dbyGoogk 



rtapecting the jirdbzans. 161 

esaly period, with the duty and importance of 
communicating the Revealed Religion to heathen 
Nations. He had a spirit to follow the steps of 
^Bwartz and Braiherd, and preach to the natives 
in the woods; but" his peculiar qimlifications, as 
a critical scholar, have fixed him to the depart- 
ment of translation. He had not been long in 
Bengal before he was joined by Sabat and Mirza, 
and other learned natives; so that they now form 
an Arabic School^ from jvhich it is not pretended 
Aat there is any appeal in India.* 

Mr. Martyn's own proper department is the 
Hindostanee Language. Soon after his arrival,, 
he translated the Liturgy of the Church ofEng- 
land into that tongue; being the first who intro- 
duced the Church Service to our native subjepts 
in Bengal. He found that many of the wives of 
the English soldiers were Hindostanee women, 
professing Christianity, but who did not under- 
stand the English Language, and being desirous 
to discharge faithfully the duties of his clerical 
office, he thought it proper to attempt such a 
translation. After reading prayers to the soldiers 
in English, he reads Hindostanee prayers to their 
wives, and to other natives. This original work, 
having received repeated revision and amend- 
ment, is esteemed by competent judges to be a 
per&picaous and faithful version of the sublime 
original. He also translated, about the same 
time, the Parables and parabolic speeches, or 

*A8 Mr. Martyn and his agsoclates at Cawnpore constitute 
the Arabic School in India> for the translation of the Scriptures; 
80 'Dt, Carey» and the Mi^tonaries nt Serampore^ compose the 
Shanscnt School. See two Memoirs lately published^ and the 
Pjxiceedings of the Baptist Society^ published annually. 

Digitized by VjOOQ IC 



162 Christian Remarehea: 

apophthegms, of our Savior, into, the same Ian- 
guage, with an explanation subjoined to each. 

But the grand work which has chiefly eags^oi 
the attention of this Oriental Scholar, during the 
last four years, is his Translation of the whole 
Bible into the Hindostanee Language. It 
has been often acknowledged, that a version of 
tlie Scriptures into what is called **the gmnd 
popular language of Hindostan," would be the 
roost generally useful in India. Mi*. Martyn is 
in no haste to print any part of his Work, being 
desirous that it should be first revised and ap- 
proved by the best scholars. His chief difficulty 
is in settling the orthography of the language, 
and in ascertaining what proportion of words 
ought to be admitted from the Persian and Arabic 
fountains; for the Hindostanee is yet in its in- 
fancy, as a written and grammatical tongue; and 
it is probable, that Mr* Martyn's Work will ccm- 
tribute much to fix it^ standard. To evince thoe 
care and accuracy which he proposes to himself 
in this Translation, it will be proper to subjoin 
his last official Report on the subject, dated De- 
cember, 1809. 

**The Hindostanee ^few Testament has been 
finished some time, and submitted to the iu- 
spectibn of a variety of persons inxliferent ]>arts 
of the country; but the opinions Wmed of the 
Work have not hitherto appeared to justify itjr 
publication. I am perfectly convinced of the in- 
utility of attempting to please all; yet I thought 
it better to withhold from the Press what longer . 
experience, and the possession of more efficient 
instruments, might enable me to send forth, in a 
form more calculated to give general »fisfiiCtio6. 



dbyGoogk 



i^espedmg the Anriiiam. 108 

The person, whose assistance I was most anxious 
to obtain, has ouce more joined me; and I ani 
now willing to hope that the Word of God may 
be presented to the native of India^ so as to be 
intelligible to the generality of readers. The 
grammai; of the language is nearly fixed by Mr. 
Gilchrist's learned and useful bbors; but it is 
still difficult to write in it with a. view to general 
utility. For the higher Mahomedans and men 
of learning will hardly peruse, with satbfaction, 
a book in which the Persian has not lent its aid 
to adorn the style. To the rest, a larger propor- 
tion of Mndee is more acceptable. The difficulty 
of ascertaining the point equally removed from 
either extreme; would be considerably lessened, 
Ivere there any prose compositions in the lan- 
guage, of acknowledged purity. But unfortu- 
nately no ftuch standard exists; no works of any 
description indeed have been found but poems. 
Lately some translations iii Hindostanee prose 
have issued from the College of Fort- William; 
but as they have not yet stood the test of time, 
and are very little known in the country, they 
could not be safely* referred to as a standard. 
Thus I have been left to the guidance of my o^ 
judgment far more than I could have wished." 

In regard to the Arabic and Persian Transk* 
tions, both of which Mr. Martyn superintends, 
as well ds the Hindostanee, he thus writes: 

"In the Persian and Arabic Translations there 
are happily no such difficulties. The valuable 
qualities of dur Christian brother, Nathaniel Sa^ 
bat, render this part of the work comparatively 
easy. As he is, I trust, a seriou^j Christian, 
the ittttdy of. the Weed of God^ loid tl^ traosla-^ 

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Is^mx^fit, are of course a matter of cBi»c& wkk 
Um^ £^id a rigid adherence to the original a.ponit 
of duty.* As a schcdar, his acquirements «IM 
very considerable. He was educated under the 
care of the most learned man ki Bagdad; add 
having continued to exercise himself in compo^ 
sition, he has acquired in consequence a critic^ 
acumen, and great command of words. > His itt 
state of health renders it impossible to say exact- 
ly when the Work he has undertaken will b^ 
finished; but if nothing untoward happen to iiv 
terrupt us, you may expect the New Testament 
iu the three languages, in the course oi' twa 
years." 



THE JEW&. 

There are three remarkable iHX>phecies c€««^ 
ceming the Jews. ' * 

1. **The children of Israel shall abide many** 
days without a King, and without a Prince, and ' 
without a Sacrifice, and without an Iniage, and 
without an Ephod, and without Teraphim," 
Hbs* iii, 4. 

2. "The Lor4 shall scatter thee amcmg sdl . 
people, from the one end of the earth eVen unto ] 

*The soUctttide of these truitlators t<x infuse the true meftnii^ i* 
of the original into their versions, and not to trust entirely to the - 
English TransUition, wHl appear from the foltowing observations * 
of Mr Mattyn iniiis last letter. "The Pta/ifu we must leave tiR • 
the end of the New Testament, for jhis solid reason* that I do- 
not understand a considerable portion of that book. Much of the 
present Translation is certainly unistelhgible. It appe&rs to me* '- 
that the two Royal Ajuthors have su^red more fromxhe plebeiaii . i 
touch of their interp^eteJr8, than even the Prophets, or any others a 
^ut Job. Hebrew bu Imo, of late my ^otmim^mifMLvm/i ^t-.k* 



d by Google 



ftspccih^ the Jkfm, 

&e other,'* Deut ^xix, 64, And yet, ^^the peo- 
ple shall dwell alone, and stidil not be reckoned 
amongst the nations,'* Num. xxiU, 9. 

3. *^Thou shalt become an astotiishment^^prov* 
jerb, and a bye- word among all the nations whith* 
er tlie Lprd shall lead thee. Among these na^ 
tions shalt thou find no eas^, neither shall the 
sole of thy foot have rest," Deut. xxviii, 57, 65^ 

The first of these prophecies is very remark- 
^We; for who ever heard of a nation "abidii^ 
many days" without its civil and religious polity, 
and surviving its political existence? The very 
-assertion seemis to involye an absurdity. Did 
the Egyptians, Chaldeans, Greeks, or Rpiwani^ 
survive their civil and religious polity? 

The second prediction is not le^ singular fhan 
^e former; for if the Jews .were to |je received 
ampng the nations of the^rth,^% should flj^ 
/pot *^be reckoned with the n^tiorj^?^ Would 
any man, in a remote ^age, venture to foretel il^ 
Aere jvas a pertain pation, which, jpthe.agpstp 
<:ome, wQ^ld be received andi ^9lerated by sHil 
Gt|iernatiQi^, merely ;to be persecute^?^ 

•To this day the Jews *'are not recjcpned" with the Ei^glish 
nation The prophetical record Influenced the last parliaraeiita- 
ry.proc^eeding' respecting them. In 1753. a*BiU was paased to. 
naturalize the Jews; but after a.few months it was repealed, th^ 
voice of the people demanded that the devoted nation should 
^'dot b^ Reckoned with them." So true it is that our last na» 
.tional dieiiberatibn concerning thi6 people y^as influenced by the 
ancient prophecy. The time is now come when Parliament may 
restore to the Jew the franchise of a fellow-creature, without 
f.oi)t ravening th^ Ji)m|ie dftcvees. It is prophesiejl again, that 
''Israel shall return to the Lord their God/' and that the period 
of this event is not far retnbfe. In obedience then to the dictate 
<)€ ikis prophecy, let our Christian nation proceed, without de- 
lay* to take away the reproach of the Jewish pepple; and-^aa* 
nouncc the act in the piosi public and solemn manner, as an ^x^ 
itmpte totheireitofihie wori^* ^ -- -^ 

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Idd Otrktimi Sesearches 

But the third prophecy is such as imist afK^rd 
a contemplation to Infidelity, to the end of time^ 
The Jews were to become "an astonishment, an^ 
a proverb,, and a bye- word among all the na- 
tions," because they shed the blood of the Savior 
of the world. Now it is not surprising^ that 
Christians should reproach them for such a crime. 
But how should we expect that they would be 
**trodden down of the heatheil world," who never 
heard of such a Savior? Behold the Hindoo, 2A 
thij day, punishing *the Jew, without knowing 
the crime of which he has been gurity! 

These three prophecies have been manifestly 
fulfilled; and if we had no other evidence, this is 
sufficient to prove "that there is a God, and that 
he bath made a revelation to man." 

There is a fourth prophecy concerniag this 
people, which will shortly be accomplished. Tli 
Ti'ophet If osca, after foretelling that the childr^ 
of Israel should abide many days without a Kiog, 
adds these word«r ** Afterward shall they return, 
and seek the Lord their God, and David their 
king; and sbaH fe^ the Lord and his goodneijs 
in the latter days," Hosea iii, 5. 

The question, which is now in the mouth 6f 
,€very Christian^ is thati'wh^ \fm asked in- tbe 
vision of the^rophet Daniel on the same subjecp 
•*How long shall it be to the end of these won- 
ders?" Dan. xii, 6. When shgll the **indign?- 
tion against the holy people be aQComplished?' 
Dan. xi,-3l; that they may **return and seek ifte 
Lord their God, and David their king?" ^ 

To Daniel the Prophet, and to John the £yaiK 
gelist, w^s given a revelatioa of the great eveiE^ 
of the general Church to the end of time. Dai^t^ 

(^ • 

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fcrfetcls that the Ghristhin Church shaH be op- 
pressed by the persecuting powers for **a time, 
%mes, and the dividing of a time," Dan. vii, 25* 
The same period he assigns for the accomplish- 
tntfot of the indignation against the holy people 
Israel. **One said, how long shall it be to the 
end of these wonders? And I heard the mail 
ifclothed in linen, ^hich was upon the waters of the 
river, when he held up his right hand and his left 
hand unto heaven, and sware by him that liveth 
for ever, that it shall be Ibr a time, times and 
a half; and when he shall have accomplished 
to scatter the power of the holy people, all these 
^hings shall be fulfilled," Dan. xii, 7. Now the 
saihe form of words is used in the Revelation of 
St. John, to express the duration of the Papal 

f' d Mahomedan powers. Oppressed by them, 
e Church of Christ was to remain desolate in 

^lie wilderness, ^*foi* a time, times, and half, 
of a TIME," Rev. xij, 1|. Every one, who is 
^rudite in sacred prophecy, will understand that 
*this great period of Daniel and St.Njohn com* 

''mences at the same era, namely, the rise of the 

.persecuting powers; and that its duration is 1260 

'^ears.* 

' Here then are three great events hastening to 
their period; the extinctioti of the Papal domin* 
Ion; the subversion of the Mahomedan power; 

^,'**the accomplisliment of the Divine indignation 
against the ho^y people," or the return of the 
people of Isa-ael *'to seei^ the LiOrd their God, 
and David their king." 
' Our blessed Savior has not left an event of 

^this importance without notice. *'The Jews,' 

. *See^ this period exptained in p* iSS^ of this work. 

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if 



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168^ €^i$it(m Meseafcke^ 

saith he, **sBali be led away captive into ali na- 
tions; and Jenisakm shall be trodden down of 
the Gentiles, until the limes of the Gentfles 
be fulfined/' Luke xxi, 24. What these 
*'*times of the Gentiles'' are, our Lord has ex. 
plained in his subsequent Revelation to St* 
John. "The court which is without the terople 
is given unto the Gentiles; and the holy city 
fihall they tread under foot forty and two 
months;" or, in prophetical language, at a day 
for a year, 1260 years. : Rev. xi, 2. 

The apostle Paul hath also recorded this event. 
**I would not, brethren, that ye should be igno- 
rant of this mystery, that blindness, in part, is 
happened to Israel, until the fulness of the 
Gentiles be come in; and so all Israel shall 
be saved, '^ Romans xi, 25. The fulness of 
time for the conversion of the Gentiles will 
be come in, when the Mahomedan and Papal 
obstructions are removed. Such events as 
the fall of the Pope in the West, and of Ma- 
homed in the East, both of whom persecuted tlie 
Jews to death, will probably b^ the means of 
awakening the Jews to consider the evidences of 
that religion which predicted the rise and fall of both. 

But the grand prophecy of the apostle Paul on 
tfiis subject, is that which respects the cdnseguence 
of the conversion of tlie Jews. ^*The receiving 
of the Jews,^^ saith he, ^' What shall it be to the 

world but LIFE FROM THE DEAD?" Rom. Xl, 

15. Dis|iersed as they arc in all countries, and 
sneaking the languages of all countries, they will 
form a body of preachers ready prepared; and 
'they need only say, *^ehold the Scriptures of 
God,, m our poawssion;. .read our history there^ 

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respecting the Jews. 169 

asjForetold three thousand years ago, and read the 
events in the annals of nations. We are witnes- 
ses to the world, and the world to us. Let the 
whole race of mankind unite and examine the 
fact.'^ "All ye inhabitants of the world, and 
dwellers on the earth, see ye, when the Lord 
lifleth up an ensign on the mountains: and when 
hie blowetha trumpet, hearye," Isaiah xviii, 3, 
Thus will their preaching be to the world "life 
from the dead.'' 

But if the conversion of Israel is to take place 
when the Papal and Mahomedan powers have fal- 
len, and who does not see that these events are 
near at hand? it might be expected that some 
signs of conciliation between Jews and Christians 
w^ould novit begin to be visible. And is not this 
the fact? Christians in all countries begin. to 
consider, that "the indignation against the holy 
j^eople" is nearly accomplished. Many events 
' declare it. The indignation of man is relaxing. 
The prophecies, have been fulfilled regarding it. 
The GREAT CRIME at Calvary has been pun- 
ished by all nations; and we now hear the words 
of the Prophet addressing us, "Comfort ye, com- 
fort ye my people, saith your God; speak ye 
comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, 
that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity 
is pardoned," Isaiah xl, 1. This is the Divine 
command. And behold. Christians begin now, 
for the first time, "to speak comfortably to Jeru- 
salem." 

While the author was in the East, the state of 
the . Jews, who are dispersed in different coun- 
tries, frequently occupied his thoughts. He had 
iWard that they existed in distinct colonies in cer- 
15 

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170 Christian Researches 

. tain parts of India; that some of them had an 
rived long before the Christian Era, and had re- 
mained in the midst of the Hindoos, to this time, 
a distinct and separate people, persecuted by the 
native princes, from age to age, and yet not des- 
troyed; "burning, like the bush of Moses, and 
not consumed." and he had a strong desire ^*to 
turn aside and see this great sight." His mind 
was impressed with the conviction that their pre- 
servation, in such a variety of regions, and under 
such a diversity of circumstances, could be only 
effected by the interposition of the Divine Prov- 
iDENfcE,*^ which reserved them, thus distinct, for 
some special and important purpose. And since 
the period of time for the accomplishment of this 
purpose was considered by many to be fast ap- 
proaching, he wished to hear the jsentiments of 
the Jews from their own lips, and to learn their 
actual impressions, as to their present circunf-. 
biances and future hopes. 

In his Memorial respecting the Syrian Chris- 
tians, presented to Marquis Wellesley, the An- 
thor also noticed the existence of an ancient col- 
ony of Jews on the coast of Malabar, particularly 
at Cochin; and as this place had recently become 
a part of the British Empire, by conquest from 
the Dutch, Lord Wifliam Bentinek, then Gover- 
nor of Madras, who had received letters from the 
Supreme Government, was pleased to direct the 
civil officer, who had charge of the department of 
Cochin,* to afford him every^ aid in the prosecu- 
tion of his Researches. His first tour to Cochin 
was in November X806, and he remained in the 
country till February 1807. He agaiii visited it 

•Thomas Flowef, fisq. 

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respecting the Jews. 



n. 



in January 1808. He has only room, in tliis 
present Work, to intrpduce a few notes from his 
JournaL . 

^'Cochin, Feb. 4>, 1807. 
**I have l^een now in Cochin, or its vicinity, 
for upwards of ^wo months, and have got well ac- 
quainted with the Jews. They do not live in the 
city of Cocl^in, but in a town about a mile dis- 
tant from it, called Jews'-Town. It is almost 
wholly inhabited by the Jews vvho have two 
itspectable Synagogues* Among them are some 
very intelligent men, who are not ignorant of the 
present history of nations. There are also Jews 
here from remote parts of Asia, so that this is \lic 
fcnintain of intelligence concerning that people in 
the East; there being constartt communication by* 
ships with the lied Sea, the Persian Gulf, and the 
mouths of the Indus. The resident Jews are di- 
.vided into two classes, called the Jerusalem or 
White Jews; and the Ancient or Black Jews. 
The White Jews reside at this place. The Black 
Jews have also a Synagogue here; but the great 
body of that tribe inhabit towns in the interior of 
the province. I have now seen most of both 
classes. My inquiries referred chiefly to their , 
antiquity, their manuscripts, and their sentiments 
concerning the present state of their nation." 



THE JERUSALEM OR WHITE JEWS. 

**On my inquiry into the antiquity of the White 
Jc'ws, they first delivered to me a narrative, in the 
Hebrew Language, of their arrival in India, 

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1*72 Christian Researches 

xvhich has been handed down to them from their! 
fathers; and then exhibited their ancient brasS' 
Plate, containing their charter and freedom of res* 
idence, given by a king of Malabar. The follow- 
ing is the narrative of tlie events .relating to their 
first arrival. 

" 'After the second Temple <i'as destroj'cd, 
(which may God speedily rebuild!) our fathers, 
dreading the Conqueror's wrath, departed from 
Jerusalem, a numerous body of men, women, 
priests, and Levites, and came into this land. 
There were among them men of repute fw 
learning and wisdom; and God gave the people 
favor in the sight of the King who at that time 
reij^neS here, and he granted them a place to dwell 
in, called Cranganor. He allowed them a patri- 
archal jurisdiction within the district, with 
certain privileges of nobility; and the' Royal 
Grant was engraved, according to the custom of 
those days oh a plate of brass. This wais done 
in the year from the creation of the world 4250 
(a. D. 490;) and this plate of brass we still have 
in possession. Our forefathers cominued at 
Cranganor for about a thousand years, and the 
r.umber of Heads who governed were seventy- 
' two. Soon after our settlement, other Jews fol- 
lowed us from Judea; and among these came 
that man of great wisdom, Rabbi Samuel, a Le- 
vite of Jerusalem, with his son, Rabbi Jehuda Le- 
vita. They brought with them the silver 
TRUMPETS, made use of at the time of the Ju- 
BiLEE, which were saved when the second Tern* 
pie was destroyed; and we have heard from ot^ 
fathersL that there w^re engraven upon tl)Ose trum- 



dbyGoogk 



- respecting the* Jews* 173 

pet§ the letters of the ineffable Name.* There 
joined us also from Spain^ and other places, from 
time to time, certain tribes of Jews, who had 
heard of our prosperity. But at last, discord 
arising among ourselves, one of our Chiefs called 
to his assistance an Indian King, who came upon 
us with a great army, destroyed our houses, pal- 
aces, and strong holds, dispossessed us of Cran- 
ganor, killed part of us and carried part into cap- 
tivity. By these massacres we jvefe reduced to 
a small number. Some of the exiles came and 
dwelt at Cochin, where we have remained ever 
since, suflfering great changes from time to time. 
There are amongst us some of the children of 
Israel (Beni Israel) who came from the country 
of Ashkenaz, from Egypt, from Tsoba, and 
other places, besides those who formerly inhabit- 
ed this country.' 

"The native annals of Malabar confirm the 
foregoing account, in the principal circumstances, 
as do the Mahomedan histories of the latter agesj 
for the Mahomedans have been settled here ia 
great numbers since the eighth century. 

"The desolation of Cranganor the Jews describe 
as being like the desolation of Jerusalem in min- 
iature. They were first received into the comitry 
With some favor and confidence, agreeably to the 
-4enor of the -general prophecy concernijig the 
Jews; for no country was to reject them: and 

•This circumstance of the jubilee TrumfeU is to be fouild in a 
similar account of the Jews of Malabar, published in the "History 
of the Works of the Learned," for March 1669. It isnotneees* 
8«ry to suppose that these trumpets belonged to the Temple; for 
it is well known, that in every considerable town in Judea there 
were Jubilee trumpets. 

*15 



d b>.Googk 



174 dirisiian Researches 

after they had gbtained some wealth, and attract- 
ed the notice of men, they are precipitated to the - 
lowest abyss of human suffering and reproach. 
The recital of the sufferings of the Jews at Cran- 
ganor resembles much that of the Jews at Jerusa- 
lem, as given by Josephus. 

"I now requested that they would shew me 
their brass plate. Having been given by a na- • 
tive King, it is written, of course, in the Mal^ 
abaric language and character; and is now so 
old that it cannot be well understood. The 
Jews preserve a Hebrew translation of it, which 
they presented to me; but the Hebrevt itself is 
very difficult, and they do not agree among them- 
selves, as to the meaning of some words. I have 
employed, by their permission, an engraver at 
Cochin, to execute a fac-simile of the original 
plate, on copper.^ This ancient document be- 
gins in the following manner, according to the- 
Hebrew translation:! 

" 'In the pcaCe of God, the King, which hath 
made the earth according to his pleasure. To 
this God, I, AIRVI BRAHMIN, have lifted xip 
my hand and have granted by this deed, which 

many hundred thousand years shall run I, 

dwelling in Cranganor, have granted, in the 
thirty-sixth year of my reign, in the strength of 

foVver I have granted, in the strength of power 
have given in inheritance, to JOSEPH RAB- 
BAN.'^ 

♦The orig^n«l is engraved on bolb sUes of the plate, the fiic- 
ahnile forms two plates. These are now deposited in the Public 
Library at the University of Cambridge* 

fA copy of this Hebrew translation was sent to the Unurersitj 
"witl^ the other MSS* 1 hare a copy in my posaessioii. 



dbyGoogk 



respecting the Jews. 17<5 

**Tlien follow the privileges of nobility; such 
as permission to ritte on an elephant; to have a 
herald to go before, to anr^ounce the name and 
dignity; to have the lamp of the day; to walk on 
carpets spread upon the earth; and to have trum- 
pets and cymbals sounded before him. Ki^ig 
Airvi then appoints Joseph Rabban to be *Chicf 
and Governor of the houses of congregation (the 
Synagogues,) and of certain districts, and of the 
sojourners in them.' What proves the inipor- 
tance of the Jews at the period when this grant 
was made, is, that it is signed by seven -Kings as 
Witnesses. *And to this are witnesses, King Bi- 
vada Cubertin Mitadin, and he is King of Tra- 
vancore. King Airia Nada Mana Vikriin, and 
he is the Samorin. King Veloda Nada Archa- 
^ rin Shatin, and he is King of Argots The, re- 
maining four Kings are those of Palgatchery^ 
S Colastri^ Carbinathy and Vara-changun There 
^Js no date in this document, further than what 
may be collected from the reign of the Prince, 
and the names of the royal witnesses. Dates are 
riot usual in old Malabaric writings. One fact 
is evident, that the Je^s must have existed a 
considerable time in the country, befdre they 
could have obtained such a grant. The tradi- 
tion before rnentioned assigns for the date of the 
thmsaction, the year of the Creation 4250, which 
is, hi Jewish cohiputation, a. d. 490- It is well 
known, that the famous Malabaric King, Ceram 
Perumal, made grantis to the Jews, Christians, 
and Mahomedans, during his reign; but that 
Prince flourished in the eighth or ninth century. 



dbyGoogk 



176 Chnatian Researches 



THE BLACK JJIWS. 

"It is only necessary to look at the countenance 
of the Black Jews to be satisfied that their ances- 
tors must have arrived in India many ages before 
the White Jews. Their Hindoo complexion, and 
their very imperfect resemblance to tlie European 
Jews, indicate that they have been detached from 
the parent stock in Judea many ages before the 
Jews in the West; and that there have been in- 
termarrrages with families not Israelitish. I had 
heard that those tribes, which had passed the In- 
dus, haye assimilated so much to the customs and 
habits of the countries in which they live, that 
they may be sometimes seen by a traveller, with- 
out being recognized as Jews. In the interior 
towns of Malabar^ I was not always able to dis^ 
tjnguish the Jew from the Hindoo. I hencie per- 
ceived how easy it may be to mistake the tribes 
of Jewish descent among the Afghans and other 
nations in the northern parts of Hindostan. The 
White Jews look upon the Black Jews as an in- 
ferior race, and not of a pure cast: which plainly 
demonstrates that they do not spring from a com- 
mon stock in India. 

"The Black Jews communicated to mc much 
interesting intelligence concerning their brethren 
the ancient Israelites in the East; traditional in- 
deed in its nature, but in general illustrative of 
true history. They recounted the names of many 
other small colonies resident in northern India, 
Tartary, and China; and gave rae a written list 
of sixTY-FivE places. I conversed with those 
who had lately visited many of these stations, 



dbyGoogk 



f^espMinffiKe Jews. 177 

and were about' to return again. TKe Jews have 
a never-ceasing communication with each other 
in the East. Their families indeed are generally 
stationary, being subject to despotic princes; 
but the men move much about in a commercial 
capacity; and the same individual will pass 
tlirough many e^^terisive countries. So that 
when any tliing interesting to the nation of the 
Jews takes place, the rumor will pass rapidly 
throughout all Asia. 

"I inquired concerning their brethren, the Ten 
Tribes. They said that it was commonly be- 
lieved atifioAg them, that the great body of the 
Israelites aire t6 be found iri Ghaldea, and in the 
countries ContiguoO's to it, being the very places ^ 
whither they were fltst Carried into captivity; 
that sbmfe' fe\^ feniilies had ihigrated into regit)ns 
rtioit remQte, aji to' Cochin and Rajapoot iti In-» 
diia, and 16 other placeis yet farther to the East;' 
but that the bulk of the nation, (hough now much 
rfeduced in number, had not to this day removed' 
two thdusand miles from Samaria. Among the 
Black JevVs 1 could not find many copies of the 
Bible. They informed me, that ih certain 
places of the remote dispersion, their brethren 
have but some smalV portions of the Scriptures, 
and that the prophetical books were rare; but 
that they themselves, from their vicinity to the 
White Jews, have been supplied from time to 
time, with the whole of the Old Testament. 

"From these communications 1 plainly per- 
ceive the important duty which now devolves on 
Christians possessitig the art of printings to send 
' to the Jews in the East, copies of the Hebrew 
Scriptures, and particularly of tlie prophetical 

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178 Christian Researches 

books. If only the prophecies of Isaiah and 
Daniel were published among them, the effect 
might be great. They do not want the law so 
muclu But the prophetical books would appear 
among them with some novelty, particularly in a 
detached form; and could be easily circulated 
through the remotest parts of Asia." 



MANUSCRIPTS. 

**Almost in every house I find Hebrew books^^- 
printed or manuscript; particularly ^mong the. 
White Jews. Mo^ of the printed Hebrew of 
Kurope has found its way to Cochin^ through the 
medium of the Portuguese and Dutch commerce 
of former times. When I questioned, the Jews, 
concerning the old copies of , the Scriptures, ' 
which had been read in the Synagogue^ from age 
to age; some told mc that it was usual to bury 
them, when decayed by time and use. Others 
said that this was not always the case. I dcs-' 
paired at first of being able to procure any of the 
old biblical writings; but after I had been in the 
country about six weeks, and they found tliat I 
did not expect to obtain them merely as presents, 
some copies were recovered. The White Jews 
had only the Bible written on parchment, and of 
modern appearance, in their Synagogue; but I 
was i nfor med that the Black Jews possessed former. 
ly copies written on Goa^ Skins; and that in tlie 
Synagogue of the Black Jews there was an old 
Kecord Chest, into which the decayed copies of 
their Scriptures had been thrown. I accordingly 
went to the Synagogue with a few of the chief 



dbyGoogk 



respecting the Jews* 179 

men, and examined the contents, which son^e of 
them said thej had never looked at before, and 
did not seem greatly to value. The manuscripts 
were of various kinds, on parchment, goat-skins, 
and cotton paper. I negotiated for them hastily, 
and vrrapped them up in two cloths, and gave 
them to the Jews to carry home to my house. I 
had observed some -murmuring among the bye- 
standers in the Synagogue, while I was examin- 
ing the chest: and bt fore w^e appeared in the 
streets, the alarm had gone forth, that the Chris- 
tians were robbing the Synagogue of tlie Law. 
There were evident symptoms of tumult, and the 
women and children collected and were following 
. us. ^I requested some of the more respectable Jews 
to accompany me out of the town; but I had 
3carcely arrived at my own house at Cochin, 
when the persons who had permitted me to take 
the manuscripts, came in evident agitation, and 
told me I must restore them immediately to 
, ^alm the popular rage. Oihers had gone to 
complain to the Chief Magistrate, Thomas 
Flower, Esq. And now I had lost my spoil, 
but for the friendly counsel and judicious con- 
duct of Mr. Flower. He directed that all the 
manuscripts should be delivered up to him, and 
tliat there should be no farther proceedings on 
the subject without his authcwity. To this the 
Jews agreed. There was some plea of justice on 
my side, as it was understood that I had given a 
valuable consideration. In the mean time he 
allowed a few days to pass, that the minds of the 
people might become tranquil, and he then sum- 
inoned some of the more liberal men, and gave 
them a hearing on the subject. In the mean 

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ISO Christian Researches 

time I thought it prudent to reti.e from Cochin, 
for a day or two, and went to Cranganor, about 
sixteen miles off, to Colonel Macaulay, the Brit- 
ish Resident at Travancore, who was then at the 
house of Mr. Drummond, the collector of Mala- 
bar. On my return to Cochin, Mr. Flower in- 
formed me that all the manuscripts were to be 
returned to my house; that I was to select what 
\V2LS old, and of little use to the Jews, and to give 
back to them what was new. The affair ended 
however in the Jews permitting me generously 
to retain some part of the new. 

"I have since made a tour through the towns of 
the Black Jews in the interior of the country, Tri- 
toor^ Paroor, ChenottUy and Maleh. I have pro- 
cured a good many manuscri[)ts, chiefly in the 
Rabbinical character, some of which the Jews 
themselves cannot read; and I do not know what 
to say to dieir traditions, A copy of the Scriptures 
belonging to Jews of the East, who might be sup- 
posed "to have had no communication with Jews 
of the Wej>t, has been long cbnsidered a desid- 
eratum in Europe; for the Western Jews have 
been accused by some learned men of altering or. 
omitting certain words in the Hebrew Text, to 
invalidate the argument of Christians. But Jews 
in the East, remote from the controversy, would 
have no motive for such corruptions. One or two 
of the MSS. which I have just procured,, will 
probably be of some service in this respect. One 
of them is an old copy of the Books of Moses 
written on a roll of leather. The skins are sewed 
together, and the roll is about forty-eight feet in 
length. It is, in some places, worn out, and tlie 

holes have J^en sewed up with pieces, of par0i- 

* - • . • ^; I. . - . . ' 

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respecting the Jews. 181 

inent. Some of the Jews suppose that this roll 
came originally from Senna in Arabia; others 
have heard that it was brought from C^tshtnir. 
The Cabul Jews who travel into the interior of 
Chin^, say that }a some Synagogues the Law is 
still written Qn a roll of leather, made of Goats' 
Skins dyed red; not on veU'im, but on a soft flex- 
ible leather; which agrees with the description of 
the roll above mentioned.* 

"Ever since I came among these people, and 
heard their sentiments on th^ prophecies, and their 
confident hopes of returning to /(?r«^fi'/e'/72, I have 
thought much on the means of obtaining a versioa 
of the New Testament in the Hebrew Lan- 
guage, and circulating it among them and their 
brethren in the East. I had heard that there vvere 
one or two translations of the Testament in their 
own possession, but they were studiously kept 
out of my sight, for a considerable time. At last 
however they were produced by individuals in a 
pi;ivate manner. On^ of them is written in tlie 
small Rabbinical or Jerusalem character;* the other 
in a large square letter. The history of the former 
is very interesting. The translator, a learned 
Rabbi, conceived the design of making an accu* 
rate version of tlie New Testament, for the express 

.•Mh Yeates, formerly of All Soufs College^ Oxford, and edi- 
tor of the Hebrew Grammar, hsa been employed for the last 
two years at Cambridge, in arranging and collating the Hebrew 
and Syriac MSS. brougntTrom India. His collation of the Koll 
of the Pentateuch above mentioned, is now finished, and Will 
form a volume in qiiartq. The Universitj^ has, wi^h great liber- 
ality, resolved that this book shall be pmted at the expense of 
the lJnive?:sity, for the benefit of Mr, Yeatesj and Dr. Marsh, 
the learned ' Editor of the, Mich^elis, has written a Note on the 
ahtiquity a^d importance of this manuscript, which "will form ft 
Preface to the work. 

I . " Digitized by Google 



1^82 " Christian Researches 

purpose of confuting it. His style is copious and 
elegant, like that of a master in the language, and 
the translation is in general feithfuL It does not 
indeed appear that he wished to pervert the mean- 
ing of a single sentence; but depending on hts own 
abilities and renown as a scholar, he hoped to be 
able to controvert its doctrines, and to triumph 
over it by fair contest in the presence of the 
world. There is yet a my^teiy about the circum- 
stances of this man's death, which time will 
perhaps unfold: the Jews are not inclined to say 
much to me about him. His version is complete^ 
and 1/^ritten with greater freedom and ease to- 
wards the end than at the beginning. How as- 
tonishing it is that an enemy should have done 
this! that he should have persevered resolutely 
and calmly to the end of his work! not indeal 
always calmly; for there is sometimes a note of 
execration on the Sacred Person who is the sub- 
ject of it, to unburden his mind and ease the 
conflict of his laboring soul. At the close of tte 
Gospels, as if afraid of the converting power of 
his own translation^ **he calls Heaven to witness 
that he had undertaken the work with the pro- 
fessed design of opposing the Epicureans;^^ by 
which term he contemptuously means the Chris- 
tians. 

^*I have had many interesting conferences with 
the Jews, on the subject of their present state; 
and have been much struck with two circiim- 
stanc*fcs; their constant reference to the DESO- 
LATION of Jerusalem, and their confident 
hope that it will be onje day REBUILT* The 
desolation of the Holy City is ever present to th« 

Midsof the Jews, when the subject is concera- 

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respecting the Jew^^ 188 

ing themselves as a Nation; for, though without 
a king and without a country, they constantly 
speak of the unity of their nation. Distance of 
time and place seems to have no effect in oblit- 
erating the remembrance of the Desolation. I 
often thought of the verse in the Psalms, "If I 
forget thee, O Jerusalem, .let my right hand for- 
get her cunning." They speak of Palestine as 
being close at hand, and easily accessible. It is 
become an ordinance of their Rabbins in some 
places, that when a man builds a new house, he 
shall leave a small part of it unfinished, as an em- 
blem of ruin, and write on it these words, Zecher ' 
Lachorchan, i. e. In MEMORY of the DESO- 
LATION. 

Their hopes of rebuilding the walls of Je- 
rusalem, the THIRD and last time under the 
auspices of the Messiah, or of a second Cyrus, 
before his coming, are *al ways expressed with 
great confidence. They have a general imprest, 
sion, that th^ period of their liberation from the 
Heathen is not very remote; and they consider the 
present commotions in the earth as gradually loos- 
ening their bonds. **It is," say they, '*a sure 
sign of pur approaching restoration, th^t in almost 
^11 countries there is a general relaxahojx 
of the persecution against us." I pressed strongly 
upon them the prophecies of Daniel. In former 
times that prophet was not in repute among the 
Jews, because he predicted the coming of the 
Messiah at the end of *'the seventy weeks;" and 
his book has been actually removed from the list 
of prophetic writings, and remains to this day, 
among the Hn^ographa^ such as Job, the Psalms, 
' thp Proverbs, Ruthj but he now begins to be pop- 



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^84 Christian ResecM'che^ 

lalar among those who have studied him, because 
he has predicted that the final '*acoomj)lishment 
ef the indignation against the holy people" is near 
at hand. The strongest argument to press upon 
the mind of a Jew, at this period, is to explain to 
his conviction Daniel^s period of 1260 years; and 
then to shew the analogy which it bears io the 
period of the Evangelist John, concerning the 

^ Papal and Mahom^dan powers; with the state of 
which the Jews are well acquainted. 

"I passed through the burial-ground of the Jewd 
the other day. Some ofthe tombs are handsome* 
ly constructed, land have Hebrew inscnptions in 
prose and verse. This mansion of the dead' is 
aalled by the Jews JSeth Haiim^ or ** Ihe Ijouse 
Qf .he Living.'* 

**Being much gratified with my visit to the Jews 
of Malabar, and desirous to maintain some com- 
munication with them, Thave engaged a veiy re- 

}^spiectable member of their community to accom- 
pany me with his servant to Bengal, and, to re- 
main with me in the capacity of Hebrew MoohsheCy 
or teacher, until my return to England Ob- 
serving that in the houses of the White Jews there 
are many volumes' of printed Hebrew, mostly of 
the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, which are 
rarely met with in England, I have emph yed 
Mxsrahiy that is the name of my Mobnshee, to col- 
lect some of the most valuable." 

At the beginning of the following year (1808) 
the Author visited Cochin a second time, and 
proceeded afterwards to Bombay, where he Had 
an opportunity of meeting with some very intelli- 
gent men of the Jewish nation. They had heard 
m his conferences with the Cochin Jews, and 

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respecting the Jews^ 185 

were desirous to discuss certain topics, particu- 
larly the prophecies of Isaiah; and ihey engaged in 
them with far morie spirit and frankness, he 
thought, than their brethren at CoChin had done. 
They told him, that if he would take a walk to the 
Bazar in the suburb, without the walls of Bom- 
bay town, he would find a Synagogue without a 
Sepher Tora^ or Book of the Law. He did so, 
and found it to be the case. The Minister and a 
fewof the Jews assembled, and shewed him their 
Synagogue, in which there were some loose leaves 
of prayers in manuscript, but no book of the LaM% 
The Author did not understand that they disap- 
proved of the Law; but they had no copy of it. 
rhey seemed to have little knowledge of the Jew- 
ish Scriptures or history. This only proved what 
he had been often told, that small portions of the 
Jewish nation melt away from time to time, and 
a»e absorbed in the mass of the heathen world* 
Nor is this any argument against the truth of the 
prophecy, which declares that they should remain 
a separate and distinct people; for these are mere 
exceptions. Conversions to Christianity in the 
early ages would equally militate against the pre- 
diction, taken in an absolute sense. 



THE TEN TRIBES. 

Th ^Tribes of Israel are no longer to be inquir- 
ed after by name. The purpose, for which they 
were once divided into tribes, was accomplished 
when the genealogy of the Messiah was traced to 
the stem of David. Neither do the Israelites 
themselves know certainly frotn what families 
*16 

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186 Christian liesearehes 

they are descended. And this is a chief argu ment 
against the Jews, to which the Author never heard 
that a Jew could make a sensible reply. The tribe; 
of Judah was selected as that from which the 
Messiah should come;^ and behold, the Jews do 
not know which of them are of the tribe of Judah. 

While the Auihor was amongst the Jews of 
Malabar, he made frequent inquiries concerning 
the Ten Tribes. When he mentioned that it 
* was the opinion of some, that they had migrated 
from the Chaldean provinces, he was asked to 
what country We supposed they had gone, and 
whether we had ever heard of their moving in a 
great army on such an expedition. It will be 
easy perhaps to shew, that the great body of the 
Ten Tribes remain to this day in the countries 
to which ihey were first carried captive. If we 
can discover where they Were in the first century 
of the Christian Era, which was seven hundred 
years after the carr}'ing away to Babj'lpn, and 
again where they were v in the fifth century, we 
certainly may be able to trace them up to this 
time. . 

Josephus, who wrote in the reign of Vespasian, 
recites a speech made by king Agrippa to the 
Jews, wherein he exhorts them to submit to the 
Romansj and eiSj)ObtnIates with them in these 
ivords: *'Wbat, do you Stretch your hopes beyond 
the river Euphrates? Do any of you think that 
your lillow-tribes will come to your aid out of 
Adkibene? JBcsicles, if ihey would come, the Par- 
thian will not permit it," fJos. de Bell. Lib. ii* 
e. 28.) We learn from this oration, delivered to 
the Jews iheinselves, and by a King of the Jews, 



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tespeding the Jews. 18T 

that the Ten Tribes were then captive in Media 
under the Persian Princes. 

In the fifth century, Jerome, author of the Vul- 
^te, treating of the dispersed Jews, in his Notes 
upon Hosea, has these words: "Unto this day, 
the Ten Tribes are subject to the K^ings of the 
Persians, nor has their captivity ever been loosed, 
(Tom. VI. p. 7.) And again he says, "The Ten 
Tribes inhabit at this day the cities and moun- 
tains of the Medes." Tom. VI. p. 80. 

There is no room left for doubt on this subject. 
Have we heard of any expedition of the Jews "go- 
ing forth from that country, since that period, 
like the Goths and Huns, to conquer nations?'' 
Have we ever heard of their rising in insurrec- 
tion to burst the bands of their captivity? To 
this day, both Jews and Christians are generally 
in a state of captivity in these despotic countries. 
No family dares to leave the kingdom without 
permission of the King.*' 

Mahomedanism reduced the number of the 
Jews exceedingly: It was presented to them at 
the point of the sword. We know that multi- 
tudes pf Christians received it; for example, "the 
seven Churches of Asia;" and we may believe^ 
that an equal proportion of Jews were proselyted 
by the same means. In the provinces of Cash- 
naire and Affghanistan. some of the Je^^'s submit- 
ted to great. sacrifices, and they remain Jews to 
this day: but the greater number yielded, in the 
course of ages, to the power of the reigning re- 
ligion. Their countenance, their language, their 

-' • 

•Joseph Emin, a Christian well known in Calcutta, wished to 
hnng his family from Ispahan; but he conld not effect it> thotigk 
•ur Goyernment interested iVaelf in hit hehali^ 



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/ m CbriaHoH BesMTche^ 

\mtff their rites and observaaccs^ and their his- 
tory, all conspire to establish the foet.* We 
may judge, in some degree, of the number of 
those who would yield to the sword of Mahomed, 
and conform, in appearance at least, to^jdiat was 
called a ^wf^ Religion^ from the number of those 
who conformed to the Christian Religion, under 
the influence of the Inquisition in Spain and Ppr- 
tugal. Orobio, who was himself a Jew, states iii 
his History, that there were upwards of twenty 
thousand Jews in Spain alone, whp, from fear of 
the Inquisition, professed Christianity, some of 
whom were Priests and. Bishops. The tribes of 
the Afl^han race are very nun^erous, and of dif-' 
ferent casts; and it is probable, that the propor- 
iion which is of Jewish descent is not great. 
The Affghan nations extend on both sides of the 
Indus, and inhabit the mountainous region, com- 
mencing in Western Persia. They differ in Ian- 
guage, customs, religion, and countenance, and 
have little knowledge of eachl other. Some tribes 
have the countenance of the Persian, and some 
of the Hindoo; and some tribes are evidently of 
Jevvish extraction. 

Calculating then the number of Jews, whooiow 
inhabit the provinces of ancient Chaldea, or the 
contiguous countries, and who still profess Juda- 
ism; and thQ number of those wlio embraced 
Mahomedanism^ or some form of it, in the same 
regions; we may be satij^ed, **That the greater 
part of the Ten Tribes, which now exists are 

• Mr. Forster was so much struck with the general appearance^ 
^rb, *nd manners of the Cashmirians, as to think ^ithaat«iy 
previous knowledge of the fact, that he had been suddenly tiutis* 
fRartedamonganation of Jftws* Sw Fgr^ter^t TravtU^ 



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respecfing ftie Jetids: IS^ 

to be found in the countries of their first captiv- 

I s 

RESTORATION OF THE JEWS. . 

That many of the Jews, when libferated from 
their state of oppression, will return to Judea, 
appears probable from the general tefior of pro- 
phecy, and from their own natural and uncon^ 
querable attachment to that country: brtt we 
know not for what purpose they slioiitd all re- 
turn thither; and it is perfectly unnecessary td 
contend for the fact, or to impose it as a tenet of 
faith. We perceive no reason why they should 
leave the nations in which they live, when thesd 
nations are no longer heathen. Nor is it pbssi* 
ble, in numerous cases, to ascertain who are Jt-wft 
and who are not. It is also true, that brfore Ju- 
dea could nourish the whole body of Jews, even 
in their present reduced state, the an'cient fer- 
tility, which was taken iway according to* 
prophecy (Dcut. xxviii, 23, and 38,) must be 
restored by miracle. But we have no warrant 
to look for a miracle under the finished dispensa- 
tion of the Gospel. We possess **the more sure 
word of prophecy,'* (2 Pet. i, 19,) and look not 
for signs and wonders. We expect lio miracle 
fbr the Jews, but that of their conversion \6 
Christianit}:; which will he a greater niiraclej^ 
than if the first Temple were to rise in its gold 
and ^^ostly stones, and Solomon ' were again to 
teign over them in all his glory. 

Miich caution is alino required in stating to 
them our opinions concemhig a Millennium,, 

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lie Chrktmn ^e^mrebe^ 

be preached in all the world for ^ witness W}^ 
all nations: ^nd then sh^ the end cpme." 

To suppose that there will be ^ period whe^i 
the Church on earth shall be no Iqnger militaat;i 
IS to suppose that a time will come when the 
Christian may die witli^ut being. able to say, "I 
have fought a good fight;'* when there will be 
little inwflord corruption and little outward. 9pppsi«- 
tion; little vestige of the old Adam, in the new 
race, and little use for the old Bible, in the n^w 
etate of things. Let us interpret Scripture so- 
berly. When the Millennium arrives^ knowled^ 
and holiness will be general; but not universal. 
Perfection is to be attained not in this world, but 
in heaven. 

On the Author's return to England, he found 
that a Society had been instituted for the Conver- 
sion of the Jews; and be Was not a little, surpris* 
ed to hear that some Christians had Qpi)Qsed its 
•institutioti. He was less surpri3ed at this, how- 
ever, when the was informed tl>at otgections l^^d 
"been brought against^the Society Jpc the qircula- 
* tion of the Bible. It is pos^^ible tp ,urge \Kjliti- 
eal arguments against Christianity itself. Sucha 
f(piri) as this does not seem entitled jtoipuch court- 
esy; for it yprings directly from this jassftn^pticMi, 
That the.Bible istnot from God, Qr, Thast there 
is something greater than : truth. . - 

Tlie grand object, which nqwi^npiges th^ at- 
tention of the Jewish Insdtbtion, h a Ti^nslation 
<rf the New Tes^am^: iiilQ the Helirew I^n-' 
'guage. To assist, them^in^ this iimporti)^t \york, 
a copy of the Manuscript found in Malabar, now 
commonly called the ?H7t;a»rof^ Testament ^ has 

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reepectmg the Jews . 1§7 

been presented to them.* The volamc has been 
fairly transcribedby Mn Ycates, of Csnnbridge, 
in tfie square Hebrew character, and forms 
three volumes, quarto. The question now under 
consideration by the Society is, whether it shall 
be received as ihe^gsis for the general translation. 
The first sheet of the intended version has already 
been printed off, for the purpose of being sub- 
mitted as a specimen to the best Hebrew scholars 
in the kingdom, both Jews and Christians; in or- 
der that it may go forth in as perfect a form as 
may be. So that it is possible that before the 
end of the present year, the Four Gospels will be 
published, and copies sent to the Je^vs in the 
East, as the first fruits of the Jewish Institu- 
tion. It is very remarkable, that this should be 
the very year which was calculated long ago, by 
a learned man, as that in which "the times dt hap- 
piness to Israel'' should begin. In the yetw 1677, 
Mr. Samuel Lee, a scholar of enlarged views, " 
who had studied the prophetical writings with 
great attention, published a small volume, entitled, 
"Israel Redux, or The Restauration of Israel." 
He calculates the event from the prophecies of 
Daniel and of St. John, and commences the great 
period of 1260 years, not from a. d. 608, which 
. we think correct, bat from a. d. 476, which 
brings it to 1736. He then adds, ** After the 
great conflicts with the Papal powers in the West, 
will begin the stirs and commotions about the 
Jewa ai^ Israel in the East* If then to 1736 we 
* add 30-naore, tfcey reach to 1766; but the times 
of perplexity are determined (by Daniel) to last 

•See '<M»hiMtr Bible," ia thii work. 

17 

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199^ Christian Resecwches f.. 

45 years longfsn If tiien we cwjoin those 43 
years more to 1766) k produces oiie thousand 
eight huiKired and elevsk^ for tho^ times of 
happiness to Israel."* 

VERSIONS OF THE SCafPTURES FOR 
THE JEWS, 

IN THE ORIENTAL LANGUAGES.' 

Since writing the above, the Author has receiv- 
ed the following communication from the Rev. 
David Brown, dated Calcutta, March 15, 1810: 

"Dr. Leyden, of the College of Fcrt-William, 
in a lettec communicated to me yesterday, has 
offered to conduct Translations of the Scriptures 
in the following Languages; viz. 

1, Affghan, 5. BuGis, 

a.'.'CASHMiBiAN, 6. Macassar, 

3. Jaghatai, and 

4. Siamese, 7. Maldiviak. 

^*The Jaghatai is the original Turcoman Lan- 
guage, as spoken in the central districts of Asia. 
The Bugis is the language of the Celel^es. The 
Macassar is spoken at Macassar, in the Celebes, 
and in the great island of Borneo. 

**Dr. Leyden is assisted, as you know, by 
learned natives in the compilation ^ QramnMQ^s 

*See ^Israel Redu V page 139, printed in CombUli Loados, 



dbyGoogk 



A' respecting the Jews. 199 

and Vocabularies m the above languages, and 
entertains no doubt that he shall be able to effect 
cOTrect versions of the Scriptures in them all.*' 

Thus, sooner than could have been expected, 
are we likely to have the Bible translated into the 
language of the Celebes. But who can estimate 
the importance of a translation of the Scriptures 
into the languages of Affghana and Cashmire, 
those Jewish regionsi 

The Jaghatai or Zagathai, is the language of 
Great Bucharia, which was called Zagathai, froni 
a son of Zenghis Khan. It is art auspicious cir- 
cumstance for Dr. Ley den's translation of the 
Jaghatai, that Prince Zagiathai himself embraced 
Ghristisinity, and made a public prof<ission of the 
Gospel in his capital of Samarchand.* There 
■Were at that pericid above a hundred Christian. 
Churches in the province? and sc«ne of them re- 
main to this day. We are also informed, both 
by the Nestorian and Romish writers, that there 
was a version of the New Testament and^salms 
in a Tartar Language. Dr. Leyden will soon 
discover whether this was the. Jaghatai. That 
language is spoken in Bochara, Balk, and Samar- 
chand, and in other cities of Usbeck, and Inde- 
pendent Tartary. This is*the country which Dr^ 
Giles Fletcher, who was Envoy of Queen EAitA" 
beth, at the Court of the Czar of Muscovy, has 
assigned as the principal residence of the des- 
-cendants of the Ten Tribes. He^ argues from 
their fi{ace, from the name of their cities, from 
their language^ which contains Hebrew and 

•See Moshetm*^ EccL Tartar STtttory, p. 40. ^ 

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8^ Christian Meseaixhes 

Chaldaic words, and from their peculiar rii^^ 
which are Jewish. Their principal city Samar- 
chand is pronounced Samarchiariy which Dr; 
Fletcher thinks might be a name given by the 
Israelites after the-ir own Samaria in Palestine. 
(See Israel Redux, p. 12.) Benjamin of Tudela, 
who travelled into this country, in the twelfth 
century, and afterwards published his limerary^ 
says, "In Samarchand, the city of Taiherlane, 
there are 50,000 Jews under the presidency of 
Rabbi Obadiah: and in the mountains and cities 
of Nisbor, there are four tribes of Israel resident, 
viz. Dan, Zabulon, Asher, and Naphtali."* It 
is remarkable that the people of Zagathai should 
be constantly called Ephthalitcs and NephtaHtes 
by the Byzantine writers, who alone had any in- 
formation concerning them-t The fact Beemo 
to be, that, if from Babylon as a centre, you des- 
cribe a segment of a circle, froth the northern 
shore of the Caspian Sea to the heads of the In- 
dus, you will enclose the territories containing 
the chief body of the dispersed tribes of Israel. 

This design of Dr. Ley den to superintend the 
translation of the Scriptures in seven new lan- 
guages marks the liberal views and the enter- , 
}>rising and ardent mind of that scholar, and will 
be hailed by the friends of ^Christianity in Eu-* 
rope as a noble undertaking, tdescrving their ut- 
most eulogy and patronage. It will give pleasure 
to all those who have hithertp taken any interest- 
in "the restoration of learning in^ the Erist," to 
see that the College of Fort- William is produc- 

•See Benjammi Itinerarlum, p. T9.^ 
•^Thtophanrs. p, 97. 



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respecting the Jews. 20J 

ing such excellent fruit. May its iame be per* 
pctual!* 



THE BIBUOTHECA BIBLICA IN 
BENGAL. 

The BiWiotheca Biblica is a-Repository for Bibles 
in the Oriental Languages, and for Bibles only.^ 
They are here depc»ited for sale, at moderate 
prices; and lists of the various versions are sent 
to remote parts of Asia, that individuals may 
know where to purchase them* the commerce 
from the port of Calcutta rendering the transmis- 
sion of books extremely easy. Those who de- 
sire tp have copies for gratuitous tiistributioa 
sure supplied at the cost prices. This Institution? 
is under the immediate superinteiKiance of the 
Rev. David Bro\^n, l^e Provost jDf the College 
of Fort- William, who was himself the Founder: 

i 

•There are now several Ol'ientaliBiB, members of the Asiatif 
Society, who have been engagi^d in translating the Holy Scrip-^ 
tirres. We hope hereafter to see. the name of Mr. Colebrook* 
added to the number. Mr* C. is the Father of Shanscrit Litera* 
tare, and has lately published an Essay on the Shanscrit Poetry- 
•^nd Metre*. How much gratifi^ should we be to see a version 
of the Ftntauuch from bis pen! or at least a Cvitique on the New 
Testament, which has been already translated into Shanscrit. 
Mr. C. is the proper man to oppose the Pentateuch to the Hindoo^ 
Cosmogany, and to invite the Brahmins to contemplate the Mo- 
saic liecords, in classical Shanscrit. This would be a werk^ 
worthy of his great erudition; and his name, as a Shanscrit 
9ttholar, would theiv, indeed, live for ever. Mr. Colebrooke ha» 
ever shewn kindness to the humble Missionaries-, who have been, 
cultivating \he Slianscrit Tongue? he has supplied them witb 
bookH, and afforded themr every liberal aid: it will givfe him no» 
regi^t, at his last hour, to think that he has had it !h his powet^ 
in. any degree, to promote the cause of Christianity.. 

♦17 

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20^ Clmsticm Researches 

and it is supported by all the translators of the 
Bible in Indio, who send in their versions, and hy 
tlie College of Fort-William, which sends in its 
versions. 

There have been already deposited in the Bi- 
bliotlieca Biblica four thousand volumes, in the 
following languages: 

Arabic, Orissa, 

Persian, Bengalee, 

hindostanee, chinese, 

SnANScRiT, Portuguese, and 

Mahratta, English* 

These translations have been chiefly furnished 
by the following persons: 

Dr. William Carey and Mr. Joshua^ 
Marshman; two men, whose names will prob- 
ably go down ^to the fiitest posterity in Indid) 
as faithful translators of the Holy Scriptures* 
These have furnished the Shanscrit, Bengalee, 
Orissa^ and Mahratta. 

Nathaniel Sabat, from Arabia, has con- 
tributed the Persian. The fijst Persian transla«» 
tion (which is also in the Bibliotheca) was made «. 
by the late Lieutenant Colonel Colebrooke, 
Surveyor-General in Bengal; and it "blesses Jiis 
memory." 

MiZRA FiTRUT furnishes the Mndostanee. 
There, is another mudostanee translation by tho« 
Missionaries at Serampore; and 

]Vtr* Joannes LassarIs author of the Chinese. • 

•*rhere Will be a large accession to this honor- 
able catalogue in a year or two. It is astonishing 
how much this simple institution^ like the Bi* 

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respecting the Jews. 20S 

ble Socfety in England, has attracted the attention 
of the public, Native and European, wherever it 
has been announced. The Superintendants have 
recently sent to England for the following supply 
of Bibles, which is now collecting for them, viz. 

Old and New Teit New Test. 

English 2000. 2000 

Portuguese .... * 2000 2000 

French ...... 500 500 

German 500 

Dutch ...-..- 500 

D^ish 500 

Spanish - - ^ - . . 200 

Latin .100 100 

Italian • 100 100 

Hebrew .*•.-- 100 

Greek - 100 100 

Syriac ....... — 100 

Swedish - 56 

Prussian - - - ... 50 
Russian - - - - - - 50 

Armenian, y 

.Malays and C Asi|^nycopiesascanbeprocured» 

^Arabic, y 

Attached to theBibliothecaBiblicaisa Trans- 
lation LiBiaAHY, containing books for the use or 
the Translators of _ the Scriptures. As this Li- 
brary is not complete, many of the necessary 
\?fprks not being procurable in India, a list of the 
volumes required will be published; in the hope 
that learned bodies and' individuals having dupli- 
cates, will be pleased to present them to the Bibli-^ 
otheca BiblicainBcngaL 



dbyGoogk 



304 Christian Researches 

This Institution Avas first organized by the Rev^ 
Mr. Brown, with a full reliance on the patronagi^ 
of the British and Foreign Bible Society, which 
has cordially embraced his views, and of the So* 
ciety for promoting Christian Knowledge, and o£ 
the Universities in the United Kingdom, which 
we hope will enrich its Translation Library. 

The Rev. David Brown, Senior ChajJain of the 
East-India Company in Bengal, formeril^ of Mag- 
dalen College, C^bridge, has now been twenty- 
seven years resident in India; and is the zealous 
promoter of Sacred Learm'ng in the East* . He b 
educating his three sons in India, solely with the 
view of qualifying them for the impprtant purpose 
of extending the knowledge of Christianity in 
Asia. Being himself a Hebrew -scholar, his first 
object has been to ground them well in the Hebrew 
and Syriac Languages; rightly judging that a 
knowledge <rf these forms the best foundation for 
ability to prouuce accurate translations of the- 
Scriptures in the other Oriental Tongues. ' But 
they have now added to these 4irst languages the 
Arabicy Persian^ and Hindostanee^ which they 
pronounce like natives of the^East. They have 
had the advantage of the best teachers in the differ^ 
ent languages, particularly of Shalom^ an emin«^ 
ent Hebrew scholar from Arabia. So that this 
little Institution in Mr. Brown's house, may be. 
called the Hebrew^ School in Bengal. 

It is understood to be Mr. Brown^s intention 
to send his three sons to England, at the prpper 
age, to finish tlieir education at the University^, 
and to enter the Church; with the view of 
their returning to exercise their ministrations in 
India. Mr. Brdwit himself h^s now »een two or 



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respecHngthe Jewa^ 20i^ 

three generations pass away in Calcutta; how 
short is a Calcutta generation! and has exhibited 
tea large and refined society the doctrine and the 
example of a faithful minister of the Gospel. 
Marquis Comwallis first necommended him to 
the Court of Directors as a proper person to fill 
his present important situation, and this he did 
from a personal knowledge of his truly upright 
and disinlerested character. In the many Gov- 
ernments which have succeeded, there is not one, 
as the Author believes, which has not recorded a 
public testimony to the merits of their Senior . 
Chaplain. Marquis Wellesley, in particular, 
honored him with his confidence and esteem, to 
the end of his administration. It was under the 
auspices of that Nobleman, that Mr. Brown in- 
stituted the **Calcutta Chabitabi«e Fund fpr 
distressed Europeans and others;" of which it 
aiay be truly said, that it has been a Fountain of 
Mercy to thousands in Bengal for ten years pa^ 
it having been established in the first year of the 
new century.^ Mm Brown would have probably- 
returned from India with his large family by this 
time, but his difiuwe benevolence in' private 
charity, and in public undertakings, both in In- 
dia and En^and, and the frequent demands on a 
man in his public station, he being at the head of 
the Church in Bengal, have not permitted him to 
increase his fortune suitably. And now, the 
prospect which opens to his view of being more 
extensively useful than before, i* encquraging 
translations of the Scriptures, in promoting the 

*Thia Institution not only assists occasionally, but pensions^ 
permane^itly Europeans, Mahomedans, and Ulndoos. 



dbyGoogk 



^06 Omgtiun iiteearctof 

objects of tte Bible Societjr, and ki edud^ngMs 
sons for the Oriental Church, «aakes him \v^i#i|; 
to remain a few years longer in India. -* ^ *• 



THE ARMENIANS. 

A LEARNED authoT, in a work published about 
the beginning of last century, entitled **The Lig^ 
of the Gospel, rising on all nations,*' observt^, 
"that the Armenian Christians will be most edii 
nently qualified for the office of extending the 
knowledge of Christianity throughout the natiotis 
of Asia."* This is undoubtedly true. Nexttb 
the Jews, the Armenians willform the most gen- 
erally useful body of Christian Missionaries. 
They are to be found in every principal city tif 
Asia; they are the general merchants of the Ba«l, 
and are in a state of constant inotion from Cantm 
to Constantinople. Their general character^ that 
of a wealthy, industrious, and enterprising peopte. 
The} are settled in all the printipal places of India, 
where they arrived many centuries before the Eiit 
glish. Wherever they colonite, they buikJ church- 
es, and observe the solemnities of the Christian 
Religion in a decorous manner. Th^ir Ecclesi- 
astical Establishment in Hindostan is more res- 
pectable than that of the English. Like u^, they 
have three Churches in the three capitals, one at 
Calcutta, one at Madras, and one at Bombay; bitt 
they have also Churches in the interior of the coun- 
try*t The Bistiop sometimes visits Calcutta; iait 

• Fabric*! i Lux Evangeliij p. 651. 
t In Bengal alone, they have Churches at Dacca, Sydabad, and 
CHnmrah, - . • - r - . . - 

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respecting the Am^nians. SQ7 

he b not resi<knt thete. The proper country of 
^^se Christians is Armenia, the greater part of 
virhich is subject to the Persian Government; but 
they are scattered all over tlie Empire, the com* 
merce of Persia being chiefly conducted by Ar- 
menians. Their Patriarch resides at Erivan^ not 
far from Mount Ararat. 

The History of the Armenian Church is very 
interesting. Of all the Christians in: central Asia, 
they have preserved themselves most free from 
Mahomedan and Papal corruptions. The Pope 
assailed them for a time with great violence, but 
with little eflfect. The Churches in lesser Ar- 
menia indeed consented to an union, Vv hich did 
not long continue; but those in Persian Armenia 
maintained their independence; and they retain 
their ancient Scriptures, doctrines, and worship, 
tp this day. "It is marvellous," says an intelli- 
^nt traveller, who was much among them, "how 
the Armenian Christians have preserved their 
laith, equally against the vexatious oppression of 
the Mahomedans their Sovereigns, and against 
the persuasions of the Romish Church, which for 
more than two centuries has endeavored, by Mis- 
sionaries. Priests, and Monks, to attach them to 
her.Communion. It is impossible to describe 
the artifices and expenses of the Court of Rome, 
to effect this object; but all in vain."* 

The Bible was translated into the Armenian 
Language in the fifth century, under very auspi-^ 
cious circumstances^ the history of which has 
come down to us. It has been allowed, by com- 
petent judges of the language, to be a most faithr 
ful translation. La Croze calls it the **^ueen of 

* CbardiB, Vol. % p. 232- 

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iOS Christian Researches * 

Versions.^** This Bible has ever remained irt 
the possession of the Armenian people; and many 
illustrious instances of genuine and enlightened 
piety occur in their history. The manuscript 
copies not being sulficient for the demand, a coun* 
oil of Armenian Bishops assembled in 1662, and 
resolved to call in aid the art of Printing, of which 
they had heard in Europe. For this purpose they 
applied first to France, but the Catholic Church 
refused to print their Bible. At length it was 
printed at Amsterdam in 1666, and afterwards 
two c^hcr editions in 1668, and 1698. Since that 
time it has been printed at Venice. One of the 
editions \diich the Author has seen, is not infe- 
rior, in beauty of typography, to the best English 
Bible. How far these editions might have sup- 
plied the Churqhes in Persia at that time, he does 
not know; but, at present, the Armenian Scrip- 
tures are very rare in ths^t country, bearing no pro- 
portion to the Armenian population; and, in In- 
dia, a copy is scarcely to be purchased at any 
price. 

The Armenians in Hindostan are our own sub- 
jects. They acknowledge otir government in In- 
dia, as they do that of die Sophi in Persia; and 
fhey ar^ entitled to our regard. They have pre- 
served the Bible in its purity; and^their doctrines 
are, as far q$ llle Author knows, the doctrines of 
the Bible. Besides, they maintain the solemn 
observance of Christian worship, throughout our 
Empire, on the seventh day; and they have as 

• Mr^ Joannes Las«ftr^ wha is nom roaldpg^ a verfli<M df ; tbe 
Scriptures iyutUe Chltieae Language tin Bengal, imi an Armenian 
Christian, and translates chief^ from the Arri^nian Bible.'. Bift 
he also iinderstands 2ngi^b. i^ cj^sults, i^e English yersioo. 

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respecting ihe ArmemunSk i69 

many spires pointiag to heaven among the Bin- 
docs, as we ourselves. Are such a people then 
entitled to no acknowlefjgment on our part, as 
fellow GhYistians? Are they for' ever tp be rank- 
ed by us with Jews, Mahomedans, and Hindoos?* 
Would it not become us to approach nearer to 
these our subjects, endeavor to gain their COTiff 
dence, and conciliate their esteem? Let us, at 
least, do that which is easily practicable. We 
sr? jn Dossession of the means ofprintinsr* which 
they have. not! Let us print the Armenian Bible, 
and employ proper persons from among tliem- 
selves, to superintend the work, and encourage 
them to disperse their own faithful copy through- 
out tlie East. Let us shew them, that the diffu- 
slon of the Scriptures is an undertaking to which 
we are not indifferent; and, by .our example, let 
us stimulate their zeal, which is very languid. 
But, however languid their zeal may be, it is cer- 
tain that ihi^y consider the English as being yet 
more dead to the interests pf religion, than thcip- 
selves. Such a subject as this, indeed every sub- 
ject which is of great importance to Christianity, 
is worthy the notice of olir Government,^ as well 
as of individuals and societies. The printing 
prcs^, which shall be employed in multiplying 
copies of the pure Armenian Bible, will prove a 
precious fountgin for the evangelization of the 

' * • Sarkies Joannes, an Affnenian mercliant of CalcuUa, when 

be beard of tbe.King^s recovery from illness in 1^89, libersied all 

, Uie prisooers for debt in the gaol of Cajtcaiu. UU Mi^je^iy, J^enr* 

' ing oithis instance of loyalty in an Armenian subject, sent bim 

his picture ia miniature. Sarkiei^. wore the royal present^ sii^ 

pended at his breast, during* hit Hie; and it ift now worn by his 

' son, when he appears at the levee of the* Governor-GeiieraL 

18 

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iXO Christia/n Jtesearckesk 

East; and the Oriental Bible Repository at Cal- 
cutt^ will be a central and convenient place ror 
its dispersion. 



ECCLESIASTICAL ESTABLISHMENT 

,roR 

BRITISH INDIA. 



/ / 



I 



Before the Author left India, he published a 
"Memoir of the Expediency of an Ecclesiastical 
Establishment" for our Empire in the East. Tte 
design of that work was first sus^^ested to him by 
the revered Dr. Porteus, late Bishop of London, 
who had attentively surveyed the state of our do- 
minions in Asia; and he was encouraged by sub- 
sequent conlmunicatidns with the Marquis Wel- 
lesley , to endeavor to lead the attention of the na- 
tion to the subject. . That publication has now 
been four years before the public; and many vd- 
^ umes.have been written on the various subjects 
which it cdntains: but he does not know that any 
objeetlon has been made to the principle of an 
Ecclesiastical Establishment for Christians in In- 
dia. An attempt has been made indeed to divert 
the attention from the true object, and, instead of 
considering it as an establishment for Christians, 
to set it forth as an establishment for instructing 
the Hindoos. But the instruction of the Hindoos 
is entirely^ a distinct Consideration, as was care- 
fully noted in the Memoir. At the end of the 
first part is the following paragraph: 

**It win be remembered, -that nothing which 
has been observed is intended to imply that anjr 



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Ecclesiastical Establishment. 2tl 

peculiar provision should be made immediately 
for the instruction of the natives. Any expensive 
establishment of this kind, however becoming our 
national character, or obligatory on our principles, 
cannot possibly be organized to efficient purpose, 
without the aid of a local Church. Let us first 
establish our own religion amongst ourselves^ and 
dur Asiatic^ subjects will soon benefit by it. 

• When once our national Church shall have been 
confirmed in India, the members of that Church 
will be the best qualified to advise the State, as 
to the means bv which, from time to time, the 
civilization of the natives may be promoted."* 

An Ecclesiastical Establishment would yet be 
necessary for British India, if there were not a 
Mahomedan or Hindoo in the land. ' For, besides 
the thousands of British Christians, who live and 
die in that country, tliere are hu^dr^s of thou- 
sands of native Christians, who are at this mo- 
ment "as sheep without a shepherd;" and who 
are not insensible to their destitute estate, but sup- 
plicate our countenance and protection. Surely 
the measure cannot be contemplated by the Leg- 
islature, for a moment, without perceiving its ab- 
solute propriety, on the common principles of 
justice and humanity. v ^ 

In regard to the other subject, the instruction of 

, the Hindoos, many different opinions have been 
delivered in the volumes iiUuded to, the ra^ost 
prominent of which are the two following: First, 
Tiiat Hinduism is, upon the whole, as good as 
Christianity, and that therefore conversion to 
Christianity is not necessary. This deserves no 
r^ply. The second opinion is, that it is indeed a 

• >iemoir, p. c8. - • 

- ■ • ^ -Digitized by Google 



tl2 Christian Researches/ 

sacred duty to convert the Hindoos, but that w6 
mustnot.do it by force. With this opinion the 
Author perfectly coincides. To convert men by 
any other means than those of persuasion, "b a 
practice fit only for the Inquisition, and complete- 
ly at variance with the tenor of every page wjiich 

4ie has written. The means of conversion, vi^hich 
he has recommended, ar,e those which are ap- 
pointed in the Holy Scriptures, namely, "Preach- 
ing, and the Word of God.*' The first and 
present means are the translation of the word of 
God into the various languages; and the next are 
the labors of teachers and preachers. 

ITie Author is not, nor has he ever been, die 

' advocate for force and personal injury towards the 
Hindoos. No: ht pleads the cause of Hdmanity. 
The object of his Work, and of his Researches, 
has been to deliver the people of Hindostan from 
painful and sanguinary ritesj to rescue the devot- 
ed victim from the wheels of Moloch's Tower; to 
snatch the tender infant from the jaws of the alii- 
j^ator; to save the aged parent from premature 
death in the Ganges; to extinguish tlie flames of 
the female sacrifice, and to **cause the widow's 
heart to sing for joy. '^ 

Another object of his work has been, to shew, 
that while the feelings of the Christian are pain- 
fully affected by the exhibition of these sufferings 
and atrocities, Infidelity, on tlie other hiuid, can 
behold them, and does behold them, with allthe^ 
coldness and apathy of Voltaire. And this is ifie 
great practidiUriumph of Christianity over philo- 
sophical unbelief. While by the former, tlie best 
feelings of our nature are meliorated, and im- 
proved, and softened, and extended; they be- 

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Ecdesiaatical Establishment. - 21S 

cQme, by the influence of the latter, sullen, and 
cokf, and torpid,, and dead. 

The remaining opinion on this subject, which 
is worthy of notice, is the following: "The con- 
version df the Hindoos to Christianity is indeed a 
sdemn obligation, if practicable; but the attempt 
may possibly displease the Hindoos and endanger 
our Empire. This fear is grounded solely on an 
ignorance of facts, and on the remoteness of the 
scene. Christianityj began to be preaciied to 
Hindoos by Europeans, 300 years ago, and 
whole provinces are now covered with Chris- 
tians. In the present endeavors of Protestant 
Missionaries, the qhief difficulty which they gen- 
erally experience is to awaken the mind of the, 
torpid Hindoos to the subject. They know that 
ev€;;*y nian may choose the religion he likes best, 
and profess it with impunity; that he may lose 
his cast and buy a cast again, as he buys an arti- 
cle of merchandize. There are a hundred casts \ 
of religion in Hindostan; and there is no com- 
mon interest about a particular religion. When 
one native meets another on the road, he seldom 
expects to find that he is of the same cast with 
himself. They are a divided people. Hindos-^ 
tan is like the great world in miniature; when you 
pass a great river or lofty mountain, you gener- 
ally find a new variety. Some persons in Eu- 
rope thipkit must be a novelty to the Hindoos to 
see a Missionary. There have been for ages 
past, numerous casts of Missionaries in Hindos- 
tan, Pagan, Mahomedan, and Christian, all seek- 
ing to proselyte individuals to a new religion, or 
to some tiew sect of an old one. The difficulty, 
as the. Author has already observed, in regard tQ 

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314 Ckrktian ReseaiH^s* ' 

tlie Protestant Teachers^ is to awaken attention to 
their doctrine. 

The general indifference of the natives to these 
attempts, whether successful or not, has beende« 
mwstrated by recent events. After the adver- 
saries of Christiai\ Missions had circulated their 
pamphlets through British India, with die best 
intentkm no doubt, according to their judgment, 
announcing the intelligence that some of the En- 
glish wanted to. con vert the inhabitants by force, < 
and to set Hindostan in ^mes; the natives seem - 
to have considered the information as absurd or 
uninteUigible, and to have treated it with con- 
tempt. For immediately afterwards, when by the 
defection of the British troops, the foundations of ' 
ouc Empire were shaken to their centre, both 
Mabomedahs and Hindoos (who, if they wished .; 
to rebel, needed only to sound that trumpet which . 
was first sounded by a Senior Mercliant in Lead- 
enjttill- street, no doubt with the test intentionis). 
evinced their accustomed loyalty, apd crowded 
round the standard of the Supreme Government 
in the hour of danger.^ > 

•A worthy Clergyman belonging to the Presidency of Fort St. 
Oeorge, who witnessed the troops marphing against each other,. ^ 
and knew not for a time what would Me the fate of the Empirei ^ 
aCter the danger ^s^ over» makes the following most just ^d 
striking reflection, in a letter to a friend. "It cannot but have 
occurred to every reflecting mind, in looking back on past scenes, 
if it had pletsed God in his providence to have dispossessed us c^. 
oiir dominions, how little would have remained to shew, that i^ . 
people blessed with the light of the glorious G<^pel of Christ, 
had ofice. bome^wny in this land! But now'' he adds exulting* 
ly^ in alluikm'tp the Translation of the Scriptures^ <Hke Wo^ 
<rt God in the languages of all India, will be an enduring |4o^k- , 
r^fXNT of British Piety and Liberality, for which the sacrifice of ' 
Prayer and Thanksgiving will ai^od to the M«»* Hil^h, to tlie 
.|aU8t generations.*' 



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EcclesiuskiGqi EMcMishmerd. ^215 

There is one arjijument for the expediency of 
aa Ecclesiastical Esrablishment, which the Au- 
thor did not insist on strongly in the Afcmoir, 
£rom motives of ddieacy: but recent events have 
reiKiered the same reserve no longer necessary. 
He will proceed therefore to disclose a fact whidi 
will serve to place the motives for recommending ' 
%uch an establishment, in their just light.^. It is / 
not the giving tiie Christian Religion to the na- 
tives, which will endang^ 6ur Empire, but the 
rvant of religion among our own eountrymen* .. 
After the disturbaiice among the British Officers 
in Bengal, in 1794, wbidi for a time had a iQost 
ahrming aspect, being of the same chairacter with - 
that which took plaqe lately at Madras, a Memo- 
rial was presented to the Marquis Welleslqr, oa 
his accession to the government, by persons who 
had been long in t& service of the Company^ 
aiSi who were well acquainted with tbe^ circum-u 
stances of the Empire at large; represent jpg th^, 
necessity of a suitable ^^JReligious E^blishmeni for 
British India;^" and illustrating that necessity by 
the events which, had recently taken place in. the 
army. That Memorial referred to the almost 
total extinction of Christian worship, at the mil- 
itary stations, wher^ the seventh day was only 
distinguished by the British Flag; an^ noticed 
the fetal consequences that liiight be expected 
from ^rge bodies^ of men^ far remote from the 
controlling power of the parent state, enjoying 
luxury aiul independence, and seeing nothings 
from youth to age, of the religion of their coun- 
try. It shelved further, that, of the whole num* 
ber of English who go ta India, not a tenth 
parti^tuni; smd assig^^d thi3 &Gt as a roa^n 



dbyGoogk 



216 CJiHsUan Researches. 

why their religion should follow them to tlie East; 
that it plight be, in the first place, a solace to 
themselves, in the dreary prospect of dying in 
that land (for of a thousand soldi^s i-n sickly India, 
there will be generally a hundred in declining* 
health) and secondly, "that it might be some se- 
curity for their loyalty to their king, and their at- 
tachment to the principles of their country." 

It required not a Memorial to apprize Marquis 
Wellesley of the truth of these facts, or of the just- 
ness of the reasoning upon them. Tlie necessi- 
ty of a meliorated slate of society for the English 
armies, was made evident to him by his own ob- 
servation; and it cannot be doubted that, had that 
Nobleman remained in India, tocomplete the plai^ 
he meditated for the advantage of that country, 
and had his coadjutor, oMr. Pitt, lived, a suitable 
Religious Establishment would have been by tl^ 
time proposed to the East-India Company, for 
every p^rt of their dojninions in Hindostan. Biit 
Marquis Wellesley had another and a more impe- 
rious service first to perform, and this was, to 

^AVE THE BODY OF THE EmPIRE ITSELF. Britbh 

Hindostan was, at that moment, surrounded by 
strong and formidable enemies, who were put-, 
ting themselves "in the attitude of the tiger,'' as 
a Vakeel of Tippoo expressed it, "to leap jipon 
the prey." And this service that great Statesman 
achieved under Divine Providence, first, Iff de- 
stroying the Mysorean Epopire, under Tippoo 
Sultaun, and thereby exting{iishing the Mabome- 
dan power in ftindostan; secondly, by ovejwhelm- 
ing the hitherto invincible Mahi^iittas; and lastly, 
by forming on die frontier a league of strength, 
wh^cfa like a xvaU p/ iron, has saved the country ^ 



dbyUoogle 



EcclesUisticdl E^stahliahment SI*?: 

from native invasion ever since; notwithstanding 
its isubsequent critical and exposed state, in con- 
sequence of frequent changes of the Supreme 
Government, and of dissentions in our army. , 
The services which that Nobleman performed for 
our Eiiipire in the East were very ill uiiderstood 
qt the' time: his Views were so comprehensive, 
that few men could embrace them:^ They are 
more generally acknowledged ndw; but it is fo be 
apprehended that some years must yet elapse, be- 
fore all the beneficial consequences of his^admin- 
istration, will be fully made known to his coun- 
try. 

It has been a subject of wonder to many in 
^England, that bur army should at any time be- 
tray syn^ptoms of disaffection in India, when no 
instance of it occurs elsewhere. But the surprise , 
will cease, when the circumstances befcM^ men- 
tioned shall have been duly weighed. Of the in- 
dividuals engaged in the late disturbances s^tMa- * 
dras, there were perhaps some, who had not wit- 
nesised the service of Chi"istian worship for twen- 
ty years; whose minds were impressed by the 
daily View of the rites of the Hindoo religion, and 
had lost almost all memory of their own. It is 
morallv impossible' to live long in such circum- 
stances,, without being in some degree affected by 
them. That loyalty is but little to be depended 
on, whether aUroad or at home, which has lost 
the basis of religion. 

The true spring of the irregular proceeding, 
contemptuous remonstrance, and ultimate disaf- 
fection of the military in India, is this: Large 
bodies of troops at a great distance ff om Britain^ 
*vhich they never expect to see again, begin, after 

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tl8 Christian Researches. 

a long absence, to feel more sensibly their own 
independence, while their affection for their na- 
tive country gradually diminishes. And if, un- 
der such circumstances, they have not the re- 
straints of religion, (for what is obedience '*to the 
powers that be" but the restraint of religion?^ and 
if they have not the frequent view of Christian 
worship to recal their minds, by association of 
ideas, to the sacred ordinances snd principles of 
their country, it is impossible to foresee to wtot 
degrees of rebellion or infatuation they may pro- 
ceed. It is unjust to ascribe these proceedings 
to the casual acts of the Governor for the time be- 
ing. Indiscreet measures on his part tnay form 
the pretext; Jbut the true cause lies much deeper. 
The Company's Officers in India are as honora- 
ble a body of military men as are to be found in 
the world, the Author knows them, but they are 
in peculiar circumstances; and if any other de- 
scription of troops were in their stead/^ passing a 
whole life -^ in such an unchristianizing service, 
the same causes would still produce the saiiae 
effects. * 

The most alarming consideration, while things 
remain in their present state, is this, that, in pro- 
portion as our Empire increases, and our force in 
India grows stronger, the danger arising froi • the 
foregoing causes, becomes the greater. These are 
- obvious truths, on which it is not necessary to 
dilate. But there is another subject allied to this, 
'Vjrhich the Author thinks it a solemn duty to bring 
before the public. , • 

Not only .are our troops denied suitable i-eligious 
instruction^ when they arrive in Iiklia, but they 
are destitute of it, during their long voyage XoxhaX 

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Ecclesiastical Establishment 211 

countr}^ The voyage is, on an average, six 
months. Now, provision ought certainly to be 
made for Divine worship, and for spiritual con- 
solation to the soldiers, during that period; for it 
is sometimes a period of great sickness, and of 
frecjueut death. Indeed there ought to be a Chap- 
lain pn board of every India ship.^ 
* They who profess to believe in the Christian 
Religion, ought also to believe in the superin- 
tenditig providence of God: ought to believe that 
the Divirte blessing will accompany those designs 
-which are undertaken in his name, and conducted 
in his fear. If we were a heathen nation, then 
might we send forth our fleets without a prayer, 
and commit them, for a safe voyage, "to goddess 
Fortune and fair winds." But we are a Christian 
nation, though not a superstitious 0ne; and, how* 
^vcr individuals may consider it, it is certain 
that our countr)Tnen in gehei'al, view the perform- 

•The East-India Company require the Commander or Purser 
of every ship to retd prayers on Sunday, when the weather per- 
mits. The service is performed, in many cases, in- a serious and 
tni>5' impressive manner; and the acknowledged good effects iti 
such cases; convey the strongest recommendation of the measure 
wjiich has been proposed. One important duty of the Chaplain 
V/f an India-man might be, to superintend tlie studies of the young 
Writers and'Cadets proceeding to India; who for want pf some 
direction pf this kind, generally pass the leng voyage in idleness^ 
lounging on the quarter-deck, pr gambling in the cuddy. So im- 
:portant has this subject been considered, that during the admin- 
istration of Marquis Wellesley, «. detailed plan for carrying the 
proposed measure into effect was actually transmrtted to a Mem- 
ber of the Court of Directors, to lay before the Coiirtr If it were 
made an indispensable qualification of the Chaplain, that he should 
understand the rudiments of the Pernan and Hindo^tanee Lan« 
^i^ges, and the common elementa of geometry and navigation^ 
lor the instruction of the Midshipmen, bis services would he tru- 
ly important, merely in his setular character. Every truly res« 
pectable Cotnihander in tlfb Company's service, must be nappy 
toliAve an exemplary Clepgyman on board hia ah^. 



dbyGoOgfe 



ance of the offices of religion with great respect; 
qn^ thaty'in particular circumstances onboard ship» 
no duty is more acccpUble, lywie more interest- 
ing, none more salutary and consoling. Such 
scenes the Author himself has witnessed; and 
from, those persons who have witnessed such 
scenes, he has never heard but one opinion as to 
tlie propriety of having a Clergyman to form one 
of the great family in a ship, in these Icmg, sick- 
ly, and perilous voyages.^ WheU/ the news ar- 
rived in En^and last year of the loss of the 
seven India-men in a distant oce^n, how gratify- 
ing would it have been to surviving friends, if 
they could have been assured that the offices of 
religion and the consolations of its ministers} had 
been aflforded to those who pei^ished, during their 
last days!* These events have a warning voice; 
and it is not unbecoming a great and respectable 
body of men, like the East-India Conjpany, to at- 
tend to it. The Author has already remarked, 
that the Legislature has not neglected a subject 
of this importance. It is required thaj every 
ship of the line should have a Chaplain; and we 
have lately seen some of our most renowned Ad- 
mirals, both before and after batde, causing Ae 
prayers and thanksgivings of the fleet to ascend 
to the God of Heaven. • 

There still reriiains one topic more, to which 
the Author would advert. It may be presumed 
to be the wish of the major part of this nation, 

, •The Rev« Paul l[.iinriick ^m a passenger on board one of tfiese 
. ships* Mr. JLimrlck was second Chq)l4Liii at the Presidency of 
. Fort- William; an amiable, benevolent, and respectable man, 

iMihose loss will be heard of with d^p regret by a large bo<ty 6f 
Uie inhabitants of CalcutU, and of hi* friend* ui £Qro|)e. 



dbyGoogk 



Eccle^09tk(d EsidMishment. 22 i 

tkat whenever a Misaonaiy of exemplary charac- 
ter and of respectable recommendation, applies to 
the East-India Company for a passage to our 
Eastern shores, his request might be treated 
with indulgence. In him we export a blessing 
(as he may prove to be) to thousands of our fel- 
K)w«creatures; and his example, and instructions, 
and prayers will do no harm to the ship in which 
he sails. While the Elast- India Company retain 
tl^ sole privilege of conveyance to India, the na- 
tion would be pleased to see this condescension: 
^ewn (o persons in humWe circumstances, whose 
designs are of a public character, and acknowl- 
edged by all men to be pious and praise-worthy. 
T& AuAorwill conclude these observations with 
a paragraph which he has found in a manuscript 
of the Rev. Mr. Kohloff, of Tanjore, the succes* 
§or of Mr. Swartz, which has been just tram- 
mitted for publication: 

^'It is a remarkable fact, that since the founda- 
tion of our Mission, which is now one hundred 
years, and during which period upwards of fifty 
Missionaries have arrived from Europe; among 
the mwy i^ips that have been lost, there never 
perbhed one vessel, whkjh had a MissioifABY 

ONBOARD."* 

The following Letter, written by Dn Wat. 
soN^ Bishop of LiLANDAFF, on the subject of an 
Ecclesiastical Establishment for British India, 
was published in Calcutta^ in the year 1^7. 

*MS. materiaii fbrthelife of Swftrt2. 

19 . 



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22& ChrhiM» Eesea/tcie^. 

^'Caig€irth^Park,£endale, lAth May, 18D6. 

REVEnCKD SIR, 

**Some weeks ago I reocired your Memoir 
of die expediency cf an Ecclesia^ical Est^blbh* 
mtsit for British India; for which obliging atten- 
tion I now returt you my best thanks. I hesi- 
tated for some time whether I ought to interrupt 
your speculations with my acknowledgments for 
so valuable a present; but on being informed of 
the noble Premitim, by which you purpose to 
exercise the talents of Graduates in the Univer- 
sity of Cambridge, I determined to express to 
you my admiration of your di^terestedness, and 
zeal in the cause of Christiamity. 

**Twehty years and more have now elapsed 
since, in a Sermon, before the House df Lords, 
limited to. thethen Government, the propriety of 
pegriag regard to the propagation of Ghristian-- 
ity in India; and I have since then, as fit occa^ 
sidns o^red, ptiviatdy, but unsucce^fully, 
{»TSsed the matter on the consideration of those 
in poww* If my voice or opinion can, in future, 
be of aoy weight with the King^s Mmisfters, I 
sfaottibe most ready to es^rt my^f, in forwarding' 
any' prudent measdm tor prOmtofHng a tiber&l Ee- 
clesiastical Establishment in British India; iiPs^ 
not wfthout consider^iod that I ^y a liberal £s- 
tablidbment,' because. I heartily Wish thdt every 
Christian strcnsld be at Uber^ to worsbip^Grod 
according to his conscience, and be a^lsited' 
therein by a Teacher, at the public expense, of 
his own persuasion. 

"The subjects you have proposed for the work 
which shall obtain your Prize, are all of them ju- 
diciously. chosen, and if properly treated (as my 



dbyGoogk 



PcclmMtieal Establishment 223 

love for my Alma Mater persuades me they will 
be) may probably turn the thoughts of the Le- 
gislature towards the n^asure you recommend* 

"The Salutaris Imx Evangdii^ by Fabricius^ 
published at Hamburgh in 1731, will be of great 
use to the Candidates for your Prize; and his In* 
dex Geographictis KfiscovATVvu Orbis Chris- 
. tiam^ subjoined to that work, might, if accom- 
panied with proper Notes, aflFord a very satisfac- 
tory elucidation of your third head* 

"God in his providence, hath so ordered things, 
that America, which three hundred years ago was 
peopled by pone but Pagans, has now many miU 
lions of Christians in it; and will not^ probably, 
three hundred years hence, have a single Pagan 
in it, but bfe occupied by. more Christians^ and 
more enlightened Christians than now exist in 
Exm>pe. 

"Africa is not now worse, fitted £or the recep- 
tion of Christianity than America was, when it 
was first visited by Ewopeans; and Asia is much 
better fitted for it, inasmuch as Asia enjoys a 
considerable degree of civilization; and some 
degree of it is necesisary to the successful intro- 
duction g£ Christianity, The commerce and 
colonization of Christian states have civilized 
America, and they will, in process of time, civil- 
ize and christianize the whole earth. Whether 
it be a Christian duty to attempt, by lenient me- 
thods, to propagate the Christian religion among 
Pagans and Mahon^ans, can be doubted, I 
think, by few; but wheth^* any attempt will be 
attended with much success, till Christianity is 
purified Grom its corruptions, and the lives° of 
Christians are rendered correspondent to their 

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^24 Christian Research^. 

Christian profession, may be doubted by many: 
but there certainly never was a more promising 
opportunity of trying> the experiment of sub- 
verting Paganism in India, than that which has 
for some years been offered to the government 
of Gre^t Britain, 

**Tbe morality of our holy religion is so saia*- 
tary to civil society, its promises of a future state 
so consolatory to iiviividuals, its precepts so 
suited to the deductions of the most improved 
reason, that it must finally prevail throughout the 
world. Some have thought that Christianity is 
losing ground in Christendom. I am of a dif* 
ferent opinion. Some ascititicMis doctrines, de-. 
rived from Rome and Geneva, are losing ground 
amongst learned men; some unchristian prac«« 
tices springing from ignorance, bigotry, intoler^ 
ance, self-sufficiency of opinion, with uncharka^ 
bleness of judgment, are losing ground among 
si\ sober-minded men; but a belief in Jesus 
Christ, as the Savior of the world, as the me- 
dium through whom eternal life will be given to 
all who obey his Gospel, is more and more con- 
firmed every day in the mmds of men of em«« 
inence and erudition, not only in this, but in 
every other Christian country. From this praise 
I am not disposed to exclude even France itself, 
notwithstanding the temporary apostasy of some 
of its philosophers from every degree of religious 
faith. I cannot but hope ^ell of that country, 
when I see its National Institute proposing for 
public discussion the following , sulpject; ^'VVhat 
has been the influence of the Reformation of 
I^uther, oi> the political situation of the (fiffereni; 
states of Europe, and on tlie progress of Know!* 

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EccMmtical EalaUi$hment: 225 

cdgt?'' especially when I see the subject treated 
by Mr* Villers, ia a maimer which would have 
derived lionor to the inoat liberal Protestant in 
the freest state in £urq>e* 

"It is not to be denied, that the inwals of 
Christians in general fall far sliort of the standard 
of C^hristian perfoctioo, and have ever done so, 
^camely excepting the lattei* end of the first cen- 
tury. Yet, notwithstanding this concession, it 
is a certain fact, that the Christian rdigion has 
always operated to the production of piety, bene- 
volence, self-government, and the love of virtue 
auiongst iiulividuals, in every country where it 
has been received^ and it will every where oper- 
ate more powerfully, as it is received with more 
firm assurance of its truth; and it will be every 
where received with more firm assurance of its 
.trutliy as it is better understood; for when it rs 
properly understood, it Will be freed from the 
pollutions of superstition and fanaticism among 
the. hearers, and from ambition,, domination, and 
secular!^ among the teachers. 

^*Your publication has given us in England a 
great insight mto the state of Christianity in In- 
dia, as wdl as into the general state of Learning 
amongst you; and it has excited in me the v^^rm- 
est wishes for the prosperity of the College of 
Fort- William. It is an Institution which would 
Imve done honor to the wisdom of Solon or Ly- 
curgus. I have no knowkdj^e personally of the 
ftforquis Wdlesley^ but I shall think of him and 
of his coad|iit0rs in this undertaking, with the 
highest vespect and.adniiration, as long as I live. 

**i cannol: enter into any particulars relative to 
an Ecclesiastical Establishment in India; nor 

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226 Christian Bestarchts. 

would it perhaps, be proper to press Govern^ 
ment to take the matter into their consideration, 
till this country is freed from the danger which 
threatens it: but I have that opinion of his Ma- 
jesty's Ministers, that they will, not only from 
policy, but from a serious sense of reUgious duty, 
be disposed to treat the subject, whenever it 
comes before them, with great judgment and lib- 
erality. May God direct their counsels! 

" *Our Empire in India,' said Mr* Hastkigs, 
*has been acquired by the sword, and must t>e 
maintained by the sword.' I cannot agree with 
liim in this sentiment. All Empires have been 
originally acquired by violence, but they are 
less established by moderation and justice. 
There was a time when we shewed ourselves to 
tlie inhabitants of India in the character of tyrants 
• p.d robl>ers; that tin[>e, I tnist, is gone for ever. 
riie ^wisdom of British PoHcy, the equity of 
lis jurisprudence, the impartiality of its laws, the 
Immanity of its penal code, and above all, the 
incorrupt administration of public- justice, will, 
when they are well understood, make the Iixlians 
our willing subjects, and induce them to adopt a 
religion attended witlrsuch consequences to liw 
(learests interests of the human mind. They 
will rejoice in having exchanged the tyranny of 
Pdgan superstition, and the despotism of their 
native princes, for the mild mandates of .Chris- 
tianity, and the ^able authority of equitable 
laws. The difference between such different 
states of civil wciety, as to the production of 
human happiness, is infinite; and the attainment 
of happihess is the ultimate aim of all individuals 



dbyGoogk 



Condusim. 227 

in all nations. I ani^ Reverend Sir, your obliged 
and faithful servant, 

R. LLANPAFF,^^ 
To Rev, Dr. T^vcKAVAV^Fice-Provostof 
the College of Fort-WiUiam^ Calcutta^ 



CONCLUSION. 

In the progress erf these Researches the Author 
has found his mind frequently drawn to consider 
the extraordinary difference of opinion, wtiich 
exists among noen of learning, in regard to the 
importance and obligation of communicating re- 
Ugious knowledge to our fellow-creatures. And 
he has often heard the question asked by others. 
What can be the cause of this discrepancy of 
opinion? For that such a difference docs exist is 
mcKt evident; and is exemplified at Uiis moment 
in some of the most illustrious characters for 
rank and leaniing, in the naticm. This is a pro- 
blem of a very interesting character at this day, 
and worthy of a disdnct and ample discussion, 
pajticularly at the seats of learning. The pro- 
btem may be tlms expressed: "What power is 
that, which produces in the minds of some per- 
sons a real interest and concern in the welfare of 
tlair feUow-creaturesf extending not only to the 
comfort c^ their existence in this world, but to 
their felicity hereafter; while other men who arc 
apparently in similar circumstances as to learn- 
ing and information, do. not feel inclined to f?wvt 
(me step Ust the promotion of such objects?'^ 
The latter^ it may be, can speculate on the phi- 
losophy of the human mind, on its gitat powers 

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928 . Christian Bnmiurchts. 

and high dignity, on the subtimd virtae of ixni^ 
versal benevolence, on the tjrrami^ tf s«i|%rBtiii 
tion, and the slavery of ignorance; and will some- 
times quote tijie verse of the poet, 

*^omo sum: hunujii nil a me alieiram puto:*' 

but they leave it to others, dnd generally to the 
Christian in humble fife, to exercise the spirit of 
that noble verse. This is a very difficult pro* 
blem; an^ it has been alleged by som« that it 
eaniiot be solved on anjr known principles of 
philosophy. The following relation wiU proba-*^ 
Wy lead to principles by which we may^ arriv^e at 
a solution* 

There was once a King in the Easf, whose 
empire extended over the known wodd, and his 
dominion "was to the end of the earth. '^ Dur- 
iog the 'former part of his reign; his heart was 
filled with pride: he knew not the Grod of hca* 
Yen: and he viewed with the utmost indifference 
the lotions Over whom be ruled, worshipping 
ydols of wood and ^tone. Biit it. pleased t^ 
King of kings to dethrone this haughty mooarefa, 
to cast him down from his high estate, and tp 
abase him in the dust. And after he had beeii 
for a time in the furnace of affliction, and his 
proud heart was humbled, Grod graciously reved* 
^d himself to him in hisi true nameahd chars^- 
ter, and then restored Mm to his former prosper* 
ity and pow€r. The penitent kicig, thus once 
mc^e exalted, and filled whhi adminatidn at tW 
discovery of the only xa^uE God^ immediatdif 
issued aa^ict to the whcdeworid^ ^ttkigfcnth 
the* grisatness of die Most High^ asserting his 
g^Tvaodi laviting iall nations to. ^*f»^]6^ ^nd 

• 

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Cmictusian. iHS 

^magnify HIM that Hveth for ever, whose dcmim- 
hem is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom 
nis from generation to generation." This me- 
j morable edict began in these sublime terms: 
"Nebuchadnezzar the King, unto am- 

PEOPJLE, nations, AND LANGUAGES, THAT DWELL 

IN ALL THE EARTH, Peace be multiplied unto 
you. I thought it good to shew the signs and 
wonders which the Most High God hath wrought 
toward me. How great are his signs! How 
mighty are his wonders!" Having recounted 
the judgment and mercy of God to himself, he 
thus concludes; "Now I Nebuchadnezzar, praise 
and extol and honor the King of Heaven, all 
whose works are truth and his ways judgment; 
and them that walk in pride he is able to abase."* 
Such a proclamation to the nations of the earth 
was a noble act of a king, and ought to be had 
in perpetual remembrance. It reminds us of the 
last charge of HIM "who ascended up on high:" 
Go, TEACH ALL NATIONS. It discovers to uS 
the new and extended benevolence, greatness of 
mind, and pure and heavenly charity; which dis- 
tinguish that man, whose heart has been impres- 
sed by the grace of God. How solemn his 
sense of duty! How ardent to declare the glory 
of his Savior! His views for the good of men, 
how disinterested and enlarged! It is but too 
evident, that all our speculations concerning a 
Divine Revelation, and the obligation imposed 
^to us to study it ourselves, or to communicate 
it to others, are cold and uninteresting, and ex- 
cite liot to action, "until, through the tender 

*Paniel> 4th chapter.; 

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asO Chrittkm- Be9^ck€9. 

oomfamon of €vod, the £ky-8piing {nm% on 
Iiigfa visk us, to give light to them thai sit in 
darkness;"* to humble our hearts, at the remem- 
brance of our sins against God, and to affect 
tll^m tvith a just admiration of his pardoning 

V Let Great Britain imitate the example of the 
Chaldean King; and send forth to all the world, 
bcr TXSTiHONV concerning the True God. She 
[Asoureigns over many nations which "worship 
idols of wood and stone;" and she ought, in like 
manner, to declare to them *^the signs and 
wojroERS of the Almightr." And, in this de- 
sign ererj individaal will concur, of evei^F 
chmvsh, femity, and nacme, whose heart has been 
penetaated with insk apprehensions of the Most 
High God; havmg knoMm his judgpients and 
ttperieiiced his mercy. 

Xirfy Ball^ Boroughbrtd^e^ 
Feb. 15, 1811, 



BHH OF TBaa CHRlStliUt EmiAABCHSS. 



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e A SERMON 

VBBACJIED AT THE PARISH CHVRCH 07 

OK TUESDAY IN WHFTSUX WEEK, JUNE i, 1811, 

BBFORX 

. THE SOCIETY 
JVHSSIONS TO AFRICA AND THE EAST, 

INSTITUTED BY 

MEMBERS OF THE ESTABLISHED CHURQH, 

BEING THEIR 

ELEVENTH ANNIVERSARY. 

BY THE REV. MELVILLE H^RNE^ 
Late ChapUin to the C0I0117 of Siern^ont. 

* Second Boston Edition. 



BOSTON; 
PRINTED AND SOLD BY SAMUEL T. ABMSTBONG.' 
ISll. 



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HORNE'S SERMON. 

PHIL, iv, 13. 
^ can do all things^ through Christ which strengtheneth Iwfw 

vf N such an occasion, and before such an auditory, it» 
would ill become me to appear, without solicitude and 
godly fear. The comments which may be passed on the 
preacher are, indeed, of no moment, but the impres* 
sion made by his sermon on the cause of Missions, is 
a considei*ation, which merits the most serious thought. 
Be feels his need of a becoming confidence, no le«s than 
of a becoming modesty; and that confidence, which it is 
impo^ible he should find in himself, he derives from 
the dignity of his subject, from the character of this con* 
gregation, and from the promised aid of our Lord Jesus 
Christ: the Lord of all power and might! 

Tbe^ SUBJECT inspires confidence. I plead for mill- 
ions, rational, immortal as yourselves; Uie meanest of 
whose souls is more prized by their Redeemer, than the 
fabric of this material. system. By me they sue; not to 
be instructed in our European Arts, not to be freed from 
the iron bondage of the worldly oppressor, nor to be ad« 
ir.itted to the participation of the civil rights and liberties 
of Britons: no, my brethren, tbey sue tor nobler things. 
By the tender mercies of Christ, by the blood of his 
cross, by the promises of truth, by the hope of the Gos- 
pel, they sue to be received into the peaceful Church of 
Jesus, to be associated in the privileges and honors of 
^he Christian name; and in that inheritance in the 
heavens, incorruptible, undefiled, and that ladeth not 
away, which is the Christianas lot. This they solicit, thef 
demand, in the n<4me ojT their Lord and ours; who hath 
usked and received the heathen for his inheritance^ and 
the uttermost fiarti oj the earth/or his fiossesnon, 
20 

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Homers Sermon. 

The CHARACTER OF THIS conoreoation mspires core- 
fidenee. I see before me 'wealth, and learning, and tal- 
ents; but I see, or think I sec, thcjir possessors, indifferent 
to these envied' distinctions, anxious only to know Jesus 
Christ, and him crucified; and to spread the blessin^pi 
of his kingdom, ft*om shore to shore, from the rising to 
the setting sun. Their hearts and prayers are with the 
cause I plead; and they will receive with pleasure, as 
well as hear with attention, every thing %hich may be 
suggested to excite the spirit of missions, or which is 
calculated to direct their conduct. 

And, if the subject and the auditory inspire con- 
^dence,.how much more the promised aid o|r him, 
whose I am, and whom I serve! I stand not here the 
servant of a man, however highly exalted: neither is it 
in the name of some unknown, superangelic creature, 
that we display the missionary banner; but in the name 
of the Lord of Hosts, the mighty God of Jacob, the lin- 
ing. strength of Israel. Jesus, the Word maae Jfeshj Im'^ 
manuelj Gdd with us^ the briffhtness oj the Father's gio* 
rtfj and the express image of his fierson: he, of whom it 
is written, Let all the angels of God worship him s and, 
Let every man honor the Son^ even as he honoreth the 
Father; the hope, the life, and the salvation of the ends 
of the earth: in his name, who commands and inspires 
p\ir labors, who crowns them with success and rewards 
them with immortality, we are bold to plead the Mis- 
sionary Cause, and to anticipate the glory of the latter 
day. Wf cfl^) and I trust we shall, '</o ail things through 
Christ which strengtheneth us, 

Gn this subject. Brethren, ite need not to be taught, 
but exhorted; not to be convinced, but persuaded. Fof 
I assume that we all know our duty, and have only to be 
prevailed upon to do it. We know that he, who dwelt 
s^lnong us in the form of a servant, wac bom a king; and 
that, in contemplation x>f his sufferings, iie solaced his 
sorrows with thb Consideration, U^hen 1 am lifted upi I 
will dfnw allmen to me. In death, calm and unaltered, his 
closing eye was li girted up with the prospect of imiver- 
sill dominion: his expiring breath— i^ is finished! was 
the signal of victory oVer the god of this world, and Irfall 
ittf 4tingdonis. A^ H* gowrnment^ and of the incr0^ of 



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; Horru?s Sermtm. 235 

his kingdofriy there shall be no end; for he must rtign^ 
until all enemies be ftut under his feet. 

The prophets predicted the glory that should follow 
his sufferings, and the apostles were the hono^'ed instru"- 
Ti(ients .of fitlfilling their predictions. To both, it was 
given to see the visions of the Almighty, and to read the 
prophetic page, to the last syllable of recorded time. To 
us they have delineated all the fluctuations of his empire; 
and marked the period of the partial eclipses of the 
sun, moon, and stars, and when they shall shine forth 
again in unclouded splendor. 

As laid down in their Chart of Prophecy, we have seen 
the false Prophet- rising from the Cave of Hira, and 
wasting the Eastern Churches with the Korlin and the 
Sword. We have beheld the Euphratean Horsemen, go- 
ing forth conquering and to conquer, until the Turkish 
Crescent waved over the city of Constantine.* In the 
West, the desolations of the Church advanced with 
equal steps, though in a form more concealed and ques* 
tionable. In the very Temple of Gpd, did the Man of 
Sin arise; and a Christian Bishop presunaed to convert 
Christ's spiritual empire into a kingdom of this world, 
and to usurp domination over its proudest potentates.. 
But, in the darkest night of the Church, when error wai 
made orthodox and sin sanctified as Christianity, a ray of 
light shone forth from the sanctuary^ and partially dis- 
pelled the darkness. An obscure German Monk dared to 
be a Man, a Christian, and a Minister. With the in- 
vincible spirit of an Apostle, Martin Luther confronted 
a Synod of Princes; and braved both the authority of the 
imperial decrees, and tke thunders of the Vatican. A 
large part of Europe heard his voice; and, in obedience 
to the Divine command, came out of Babylon, that Mdlb- 
er of Abominations. With^our own eyes we have seen 
arman arise, who, having encircled his brows with the 
iron crown of Charlemagne, has torn the tiara from the 
head of the pretended Vicar of Christ, and has v%r^ 
sumed the dominic^s bestowed upon him, by the ill- 
judged liberality of his great predecessor. While these 
wonderful transactions have passed in Eurppe, the Cres- 
Oent, long declining from its splendor,, visibly begins to 
wane; and the Temple of Mecca and the ttitelary Demon: 



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of Mahomed shrink beneath the • sword of the Wech«- 
^itesL While Rome boweth down, Mecca stoopethi 

from these signE^in heaven^ and in eai^th, in the state 
and in the Church, it is visible to. those who read them 
with a Christian eye, that some grand and universal 
change i^ taking place in religion and morals, worthy of 
the splendid and tremendous machinery, with which it 
is iiitroduced. Of tlie nature of thut change we are 
informed by the sure word of prophecy. It is confessed- 
ly difBpult, perhaps impossible, to ascertain with pre^ 
cision, the commencement and termination of the grand 
prophetic period of 136a years, determined for the 
desolation of the sanctuary; but it is obvious, that that 
period has now nearly elapsed, and that the redemption 
of the Church draweth nigh. Faith and Hope already 
behold her coming up out of the wildeiiiess, leaning on 
the boEom of her beloved, and glorious as an army with 
banners. They see the dispersed of Israel and Judah 
reii-ored to the land of their fathers, and converted to the 
faith of that Messiah whom they so long rejected. They 
see the fulness of the Gentiles flowing to her, and the 
kingdoms of this world becoming the kingdoms of our 
£rOd, and of his Christ, until righteousness cover the 
earth as the waters cover the great deep. 

These happy presages, these lively expectations, seem, 
to have obtained a general prevalence; and no where 
more, than in this favored country. Our Bible Societies, 
our Missionary Associations, and the various Versions 
of the Scripture now making into the most prevalent Jan^ 
guages of the East, are precious drops, large and fre- 
quent, which precede plenteous rain, when the seasons 
of refreshing come from the presence of the Lord. The 
Angel, who is to preach the Everlasting Gospel to every 
tribe of man, is even now on the wing. The precursors 
of the evangelic army are Silready landed on the African 
and Asian shores, &ad call on us to follow, and to sup- 
port the sacred banner of the cross. Inquiry and expeq(a» 
tion are excited among the Eastern People; ahd we are 
assembled, this day, on the banks of. the Thames, to 
animate each other to these peaceful wars, and to consid- 
er how we may best fulfil the hopes which we have ex- 
cited. . • 



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iS&meV SerifMn. 2Bf 

S&w Mlsuonfr shall be conducted with most cffect,- 
Tnay well admit diversity of opinion; *ut, of the duty 6f 
engaging in them) among Christians, I presume there= 
^an be*but one. We f&und our undertaking, not on the 
•ecret, but on the revealed will of God — lo make his Son 
_ihe head qf the heuthen. We justify it, not by the falli- 
' ble deductions of reason, but by the explicit command of 
Christy Gro, preach the Ooafiel to every creature. We 
are eneouraged to prosecute itj by the example of the^ 
Universal Church, which in no century of the Chris- 
tian era, and under no discouragements, hath ever been 
prevailed on to relinquish the claims of her Lord, or 
* wholly to delist from propagating his saving faith, 
'Oratltude impels, humanity implores, justice commands,^ 
honor invites, and conscience approves th^. war. What^ 
Moe-ver things are lovely and of good refiort; if there be any 
'Virtue', and if there be any firaiae^ they all conspire to^ 
warm our hearts, and to strengtlien our hands. 

A cause so sacred, so truly Christian, taken up on prin- 
ciples of faith and reason, may welllDe expected to meet 
with general appiobaiion and support. That it does meet 
mrith them is more than I dare affirm^ much less, that 
that approbation is cordial and affectionate, and that sup- 
port zealous and liberal, commensurate to the magni- 
tude of its object, and the discouragements which it has 
to encounter. Alas! my Brethren, the spirit of missions 
has, as yet, but half warmed the bosom oiF the Church. 
That zeal, which prompts to personal exertions and 
jKicrifices, is not the characteristic of the day, nor of the 
Members of theChurch of England. Long peace, and 
disuse of missionary arms, have chilled our blood. The- 
trumpet sounds, and .principle and shame compel. us to^ 
the field. But our orders are loose and broken;.our minds 
timid and irresolute. W^ talk of insurmountable obsia-- 
eles-— of privations intolerablCf— <and of sacrifices, which 
it is not justifiable for even religion to- mafc#t while pre- 
timder&to tenderness of conscience affect to tremble to 
think of the evils, whicb harmless Gentc^s are to suffer 
£rom,our^intolerance; and profound politicians can dis^ 
cover in this pacific assembly, the seeds of future wars, » 
and of^ a revolution which is to subvert the British Em-- 
pire in the East. But is this the fearless entei^rise o9* 
♦20 

; ^ Digitized by VjOOQIC 



238 Harness Sermon. 

British Seamen, British Soldiers, British Merch|fllts^ Is 
this the uncquivcrAl language of the votaries of avarice, 
of amhition, or of fame? Was it in this calculating spir- 
it, that three obscure individuals sealed the fate of Peru, 
on the blessed body and blood of Christ? Had Arcot been 
defended, or the field of Plassey fought in this temper, 
•where now were our Indian Empire? And is it in fear 
and irresolution, that Bonaparte stands in the midst of 
the earth, like an angel commissioned to destroy? 

Weil might our Blessed Master observe, that the chii' 
dren of this world are wiser in their generation than the 
children of light. With equal truth it may be said, that 
they have generally more zeal, more fortitude, more pa- 
tience, and more perseverance. To exonerate ourselves 
from censure, we muy lay what colors we please on the 
subject: at the same time, nothing but the antichiistian 
principled of sloth, fear, love of the world, and a distrust 
of the pQwer and grace of Christ, could make us exag^ 
gerate, beyond all proportions of truth, discourage- 
ments, which are in themselves, indeed, as formidable 
as the world, the flesh, and the devil can render them; 
discouragements, however, which we can overcpme,. 
through Christ which strengtheneth us» 

Doth unbelief ask^ Who is sufficient for these things? 
The God whom we serve, the Creator, Upholder, and 
Governor of all worlds, in whose hands are all hearts, 
and whose pleasure is served by every varying event-— 
He is ALL-SUFFICIENT. His wisdom and power, his faith- 
fulness and truth, will not be neutral witnesses of our 
patience of hope, and labor of love. TM unsearchable 
riches of Christ, and his inexhaustible grace, are allt 
SUFFICIENT, to supply all our necessities^ He will go 
forth with our hosts, marshal their orders, inflame their 
courage, himself lesid the war, and scatter the alien ar- 
mies. And,: in the hands of the Divine Spirit, the evi- 
dence of the gospel is all-sufficiknt, to convince.the 
most skeptical; the motives of the gospel ALL-suFFicrfiNT, 
to subdue the most obdurate; and the sanctions of the 
gospel ALL-suFFiciKNT, to triumph over the most world- 
ly, sensual, and ferocious. ~ Our all-sufficibncy U q/[ 
God: we can do all things through Christy which •trengtkr 
eneth «#. 



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Hornets Sermon. 239" 

Away, then> with<the wretche54 cant of false humility— 
"We caja cionotlung." What, then! Is the arm of the Lord 
shortened^ that he cannot save? — That he cannot do, in 
us, and by us, whatever he commands? Jesus of Naza- 
reth did conq^ter th^ world, by men of like passions 
with ourselves; and he hath pledged himself, that he 
will conquer it again— conquer it more generally^ more 
permanently, and more gloriously; and it may be, by in- 
struments more contemptible than the blessed fisher- 
men of Galilee, and by means less splendid than the mi- 
raculous gifts of tlie Holy Ghost. Then, the Church, came 
down all glorious from heaven: now, she will be won- 
derfully raised up from the bosom of the earth, 

Let then the heathen ragCy and the fieofile imagine a vair^ 
thing* Let the kings of the earth set themselves^ anS 
the rulers take counsel together^ against the Lord, and 
against his Anointed^ sayings Let us break their band* 
asunder^ and cast away their cords from us, //e, that 
eitteth in the heavens^ shall laugh; the Lord shall have- 
them in derision* Then shall he sfieak unto them in hit 
wrathy and -vex them injiis sore disfileasure. Yet harvt 
I set my king u/ion my holy hill qf Zion, J ivill declare' 
the decree: \ The Lord hath said unto me, Thoti art my 
Son: this day have I begotten thee. Ask ofme^ and 1 shall 
give thee the heathen for thine inheritance', and the utter- 
inost /larts of the earth for thy fiossession. Thou^halt 
break them with a rod of iron: thou shall dash them in 
pieces^ like a fiotter*s vesseL Be wise now, therefore^ Q 
ye kings: be instructed, ye judges (if the earth, Serve the 
JLord with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son,, 
lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when hiu . 
wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they, that 
fiut their trust in him! Fear we the success of this vic^ 
torious kingdom? Or can we be ashamed of this Kingol 
Kings? 

St. Paul combined with profound humility the most 
confident faith: In his flesh there dwelled no good things. 
but, being strong in the spirit, he could c/u aU, things 
through Christ which strengthened him.^ Say not, "Are 
we Apostles? *— We are ohristiaks; We are MvInis-^ 
TKRs. As such, we have the same iaith, the saniu Spivt 
it^ the same Father, and the same Lordj^ wUb t^e a^^^ 



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tie. What Vaa H£, which Christ 4idBot tftoake hoot 
\Yhat did lu; do, M^hich Christ di4 not woi^ in him 
and by him? Let us, then, folk>w him, as he followed 
Christ, aad be strong" in the Lordy and in th^ pcmer of 
^8 might. We are not apostle^, and, therefisrei nbed 
not their credentials; our warfare thdugh^ sioiilar^ is- not 
exactly the same: so far as we ar« called to tread in 
their steps, we may confidently rely on the sftme all^ 
sufficient Lord. He will no^ send us^ on his w«rfar6, 
at our own charges: nor can we say what may be done^ 
until we make a fair trial. Meii, who fill the eaiPth with. 
their fame, might have liv^ aad died unknown, had 
not Providence set before them . a b<rid career, and 
heaven or hell supplied th^m with motives to enter on 
it. What a theatre for truly grand achievements ia now 
set before us, and who shall dare to say, that) through 
Christ which Btrengtheneth usy we cannot act our part 
with propriety, if not with success? Under God, roaa 
is much the creature of occasion, association, and cir^ 
cumstance. Great pursuits form great men;,and> in this 
cause, there is every* thing that can elevate the genius, 
and ameliorate the heart. Jis, our day isy »a ahaU our- 
strength be. If we dar^ l^elieve Christ's promises in Eu-^ 
rope, we shall see the lighting down of his arm^ in the 
ends of the world. 

We dare not intrude into the province of the Head 
of the Church. He will select his own instruments, 
ijualify them for their work, and prosper^ their labors, 
how, and when, and in what measure he pleases. Nor 
will that Faithful Witness fail to make good every tittle 
of- his engagements. The duty of this Association is^ 
neither to be ashamed of Missions, nor to despair of theit^ 
success, nor to be fastidiously delicate in the exertion o£ 
its in^ence to promote them* Shame is disaffection; 
despair, disloyalty; and lo be too nice, in the use of 
fair and honest means, a dereliction of the tross of 
Christr^that standard, around which we sl^ld rally 
and unite all our efforts. To collect information by cor» 
despondence at home and abroad--^to establish funds'^— to 
dielibfirate on every measure, which prudencu can sugw 
ge3t<'-^»^d above all, to diffuse the spirit of missions in 
««e^ poasibl€^ di i'ect i oi> i*- c ompi'ises> perh^Sf nil' we. 



dbyGoogk 



Hornets Sermon. 841 

can do. This should be done with simplicity, humilityr 
fear, trust, patience, and perseverance; and, while we 
thus act, be this our motto, fVe can do all thingn^ through 
Christ which strcn^thcneth u*t. 

The most immediate and most distressing of all our 
discouragements. Is, the want of Missionaries. I was 
before bold to advance strong- censure on this point; and 
I dare not retract iti but it is a justice which I owe ta 
my honored brethren of the gospel ministry, before I 
press the censure further, to observe, with respect to 
Missions, how differently they are circumstanced from 
the laity. The part allotted to the laity lies in a small 
compass: it is easy, and revolts none of the grand prin-« 
iples of human nature. Would each contribute his 
wealth, his prayers, his counsels, and his influence, aQ- 
cording to the ability which God giveth, Missions would 
be nobly patronized; and yet, no individual would feel 
their pressure. Should the laity shrink from their du-^ 
ty, wholly or in part, their number and station in the 
church secure them, in some degree, from observation 
and reproach. Should their most zealous endeavors pe 
. frustrated, they have no personal sufferijig, shame, or 
responsibility. Indifferent spectators of those, who were 
jeopardizing their lives, they could not be. They would 
feel a generous interest, an affectionate sympathy, m the 
■weal or wo of the soldiers of the cross; but, after all, they 
would be spectators only, and not combatants in the war. 
Far different is the part of the clergy. They are called 
to advance with the standard in the van, and to sustain 
the whole shock of battle. Every Christian principle is 
brought to the severest test. Every affection of the heart 
must be laid on the cross. If they will do their duty, 
the son, the husband, the father, the friend, the man, 
perhaps, even the minister must be sacrificed. The 
Missionary can borrow no aid from avarice, ambition, 
or fame; principles, which v^ork miracles In the world. 
It is not. a temporary, but an everlasting adieu, which he 
must bid to his native soil, and all the fond charities [ 
which it contains: it is not a few protracted campaigns of 
danger, toil, or privation, which he is to endure: it is not 
even the glorious death of ^ martyr, (though this may- 
b.e his lot). which only he is to encounter^ To every prin- 



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^2 Harness Sermon. 

eiple of flesh and blood, he must die dailyi His life is 
&^e martyrdom; and, with St. Paul, he must bear about, 
in his badyy the dying' of the Lord JeauB. Every active 
and passive virtue, the Hero and the Saint, must be call- 
ed into habitual exercise. Universal temperance and 
self-denial; fervent zeal, tempered with the meekness of 
heaveilly wisdom; restless activity, which thinks nothings 
done, while any thing remains undone; supported by 
inrincible fortitude, and perfected by patient industry; 
and perseverance full of joyful hope; these graces com- 
bine to form the grand' outline of the Christian Mission- 
ary. His labors end only with his life; and that may 
terminate, he knows not where nor how, by land ov sea, 
ift the midst of a ferocious multitude, or alone, unshel- 
tered, and without a friend to close his eye^s. 

And is this race of glory to be run hastily, even by 
the best of men? Is it modest, is it humble, to be candi^ 
DATBS for missionary arms^ "sharp, massive, and reful- 
gent,** which claim the spirit and strength of an apostle 
to wield them? Ah! my friends, little do you know the 
fears and solicitudes, with which, under every possible 
advantage, we conduct the sacred ministry at home. 
Thousands of light men have, indeed, thrust themselves 
into the ministry; but no one who knows 'what the curb 
OF. SOULS is, will undertake it, or continue in it when un- 
dertaken, unless a necessity be laid upon him, and he 
feels, W-Q be unto we, (/ T preach not the gosfiel! Can you, 
then, wonder if the clergy be circumspect and deliberate; 
and if before they become Missionaries, they require • 
every evidence of which it 4s susceptible that they have 
a mission from above^ ^nd some humble qualification 
to fulfil it? Shall they stake their all, in heaven and 
earth, and commit the honor of the church, before they 
be fully fiersuaded in their own minds? 

Here, I fear, some will think I have forgotten my 
text, and the* cause which I am to plead; and that I have 
painted the qualifications and labors of the Missiouaiy, 
m colors by no means alluring; and will ask, What raio- 
tives can induce a sober man to engage in such a war- 
fare, or what principles support him under it? And what . 
motives influenced thy incarnation, O Son of God; in- 
fluenced thee tu'be a servant y yea^ ^ mforrn and no mariy^ 



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Horn^ Sermen. 243 

« 'twtfn of sorrows and acgtuiinted with griefs? What prin-. 
ciples sustained thee, O Jesus of Nazs&reth, in the gar- 
den of Gethsemane, and on the accursed tree, when 
tkou didst trtad the winefireas aloncy and qf the peofUe 
there was none with thee? Those motives, those prin- 
ciples, shall influence and sustain thee, thou Mission- 
ary man of God. The love of Christy which fiasseth 
knowledgej shall constrain thee. The cross, the sacred 
cross, thy tree of life, thy hopc>thy rejoicing, thy glo- 
ry, shall kindle tip in thy soul all the mind of Christy 
and sustain thee with all the power of God. Thou canst 
(k), canst suffer, canst conquer all things, through Christ 
which strengthrneth thee Thy losses, thy crosses, thy 
SOI rows, thy wife, thy children, thyself, tiiy all are Christ* 9 
a7id Christ is God*s. If in thee, the measure of his suffer* 
\ ings be filled up, in him shall thy joys be full; and he 
shall anoint thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows,. 
He shall feed thee with hidden manna, which the world 
knoweth not; and* in thy heart, will be make rivers of 
living water to spring up and overflow. If thou sufl*er 
with him, thou shalt also reign wi^h him. His heaven 
shall be thy heaven, and his God thy God. And wh0 
shall sefiarate thee from the love qf Christ? Shall tribU" 
iatioii^ or distress^ or fiersecutiouy or famine^ or nakedness^ 
or fierily or sword? JVay^ in all these things^ we arc 
more than conquerors^ through him who loved us. For I 
am fiersuadedj that neither deaths nor life^ nor angelsy nor 
principalities^ nor power s^ nor things present^ nor things 
to comcy nor height, nor depths ngr any other creature j 
shall be able to separate us from the love qf Gody which 
is in Christ Jesus our Lord, 

Beloved Brethren, if we look only on the outside 
of the Christian Missionary, we shall see no form nor 
comeliness in him. Ms life may seem madness and hi* 
death without honor. But, if we look nearer into the in-» 
ner man of the heart, we shall see this outcast of men 
exceeding glad, filled with all consolation, and rejoicing 
with joy unspeakable, and full of glory. Be his losses 
never so great, he accounts them as nothing: be his suf- 
ferings never so heavy, he rejoices in tribulation: he hugs 
his chain; sings midnight hymns of praise to Christ, in 
the dungeon and in the stocks; and, with the calmest 



dbyGoogk 



244 Ihm^s SertMnu 

reason^ reckons that his firesetit Ught afflictions^ which 
etre but /or a moment^ are not worthy to be comfiared with 
that far 'i more-exceeding^ and eternal weight <i/giory which 
Mhalt be revealed. 

And are there in this place any. I would hope there 
are nonel who are disposed to turn with contempt from 
the Missionaries of the Cross? men. Who hazard their 
lives for the sake of 'the Lord Jeeusy whose names are 
written in his book of life, and who shall hereafter rank 
among his martyrs and confessors! They sink not un- 
der your contempt, nor value any thing which you may 
possess! They feel that ample fortunes, splendid estate* 
lishments, persi^al or hereditary honors, garters and 
mitres, without the love of Christ, are nothing, worse 
than nothing; straws, which float on the stream; vain 
decorations^ which cover the cheerless niansions of the 
dead! But are there here any such as I have supposed? 
Let them take home with them one word of St. Paul, 
which I pray God that they may ponder in their hearts. 
If any man love not the Lord Jeaus Christy let him be 
Jnathema Maranathat 

To you, my Christian Brethren, I return; and to your 
heacts 1 appeal) whether I have not done some humble 
justice to the Missionary character, and exhibited its 
luminous, as well as its dark side? Can, then, your timei 
your money, your influence in society, be better employ- 
ed, than in discovering such characters, cherishing their 
pious ardor, and forwarding them to the stations whith- 
er their high destinies, call them? Whatever coldness I 
impute to the clergy, as well as to the laity, yet such 
characters there certainly are among them» and possibly 
more than we suppose. Then patiently persevere in well 
doing, and you shall discover them, and bring them to 
the places, where they ought to stand. For it cannot 
be, that, in *the nineteenth Century, and in the first t>f 
the reformed Churches; while God's judgments are 
abroad in the earth, while illustrious prophecies are ac- 
complishing; while the Church is raising her languid 
Head, and while the pious L4dty are calling loudly for 
Missionaries; it cannot be, that the clergy alone should 
remain cold and supine. Not so the Great Shepberd 
(^umbered! Not so did he Charge the Apostolic Mt€p« 



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Ifyi^is Sermoit. 245 

)ge^T^'ifeeimy9hee^^feedi7nyiamh9% l^ot so did the 
Hoble Paul watch over his Philippians, on the service of 
whose faith he was willing to be offered up. Not so our 
Cranmers, Ridleys, Latimers, and Hoopers quenched the 
violence of fire. ' 

What avail, my Reveretjd Brethren, the doctrinal pu* 
rity of our articles,, the Christi^i spirit of our Liturgy 
and Services, atid the apostolic gravity of our Homilies, 
unless they be embodied in the Clergy, jiind endued with 
life and action? However excellent, they ai-e not a liv- 
iNO CHJJBCH. .We must support them, and not they us. 
They can not, of themselves, endure the fiery ordeal of our 
times. From the external enemies of our Ghurch, we 
have nothing to fear: for 'mhf>y on what sfmll harm us, if 
vtfe be folloioera qf'that which is good? But it is from oiir- 
selves, that we have every thing lo apprehend. A Lao- 
dicean temper and secular life, personal neglect of the 
great salvation, and negligence in the discharge of our 
ministerial office, these are the my-stic fingers of that in- 
vincible hand wluch writes in legible characters. Ye are 
sweighed in the balances^ and are found wanting. In re- 
spect (^-Missions, and ©f every thing else. in which we 
fail, let u^ then t-ouae; and redeem our Church, from 
r^in, and ourselves from, shame. Let us proye to the 
^vorld, that the cause of Christ i« dear to iis$ and that we 
have nobler motives of preference to our Church, than 
those of ease, honor, and emolument 

By the meekneas and gentienesa of Christ, 1 beseech 
you. Brethren, forgive this my boldness toward you; and 
i^.me the justice to believe, that I hope better things of 
you, though I thus ^p.eak. You will arise, and nobly re* 
deibmyouf* own honor, and that of our venemble Church; 
iand, in this confidence, the meanest of her sons address- 
^s to you the woxd of exhortation*. The eyes of England 
are fixed upK»n you* To you, Asia and Africa stretch 
forth theh* Uands^ From you, they demand their portion 
of the inheritance under the New Testament, of which 
you are the Trustees and adnunistrators. To you the 
Church looks for the confirmatkni of her best hopes, and 
the prophecies for their most glorious accomplishment. 
Your £^itismal. Vow binds you to take a part with the 
,«eaious Laity; and your cx'd&nsttion to tlie Sacred 0£^e 
21 

Digitized'by VjOOQ IC 



246 H&me^s Serm^. 

fs your glorious prerogative to be {^d^« of the ' 
Jiovf beautiful are their ft ei on the mount&in^^ ^hopubf 
Hdt gitid tidings qffieae^: m^ «ay unto Ziim^ Behold Jlip 
God! 

Do you still hesitate? Go to Mount Tabcvr^ an^ ooBtem# 
^ate the glory of your Innnauuel, as of the only begotten 
of the Father J full of grace and frtM. Bebold^ in Geth* < 
semane^ the Son of Man, prostrate ^on tl»e earthy inesv 
presfl^ibie anguish forcing from his person a pretertiatur>» 
al and bloody sweat; ^nce deprecating the cup. of ^sor- 
row, and then meekly drinking it to the dregs! Place 
yourself beneath his Cross. Mark the sorrows of the 
Friend and Moti^r of your Lord. Hear the sa^^age 
shouts of the infuriate populace; and the brutal insuks 
of the piicsts and rulers. Behold the Lamb slain ftom 
the foundation of the worlds the Lamb of God that taktth 
away ite^ina. Look into his hatPt, and read there Ioyo 
unutterable: Glory to God in the highest: fieaee and good 
will to man, \ Listen to his dying pardons, blessings^ and 
prayers. Drink in his last breath, It is finished! while 
earth trembles, heaven mourns, rocks rend, tlie sun re« 
fuses to shine, and nature groans. Say; is this .thy :Ms«i 
ler, thy Savior, thy Godi Do thy eternal hopes hfmg witfiT 
liim on the cross? And dost thou expect to see him 
again in glory, 4nd that be will say unto thee, Well done^ 
good and faithful servant^ enter thou into the joy of thy 
Lord? And will not such matchless love constrain us to 
forsake all, to take' up our cross, and to follow him? Wiil 
it not constrain 41 s to say, <*Lord, we are thine by every 
sacred tie. Appoint to us cur work^ and the bounds of 
our habits^n. All countries and climates are alikei life 
and death are equal: only let us live and die for theef 

Such meditations as these, my Brethren, frequent and 
brought home to the hearty familiarized and wrought^l^ 
the Holy Spirit into the temper of our minds, woul^ 
spread the Spirit of Missions far and^ide, among the 
Clergy sum! Laity. Our very women would catch the 
sacred fire, aud glory in the warfare of the cross. Chris* 
tian Matrons! from whose endeared and endearing lips, 
we first heard of the wondrous Babe of Bethlehem^^ »id 
were taught to bend'our knee to Jesus— .ye^ who ^nt 
taught these eagles how to soar, will ye now check their 



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Homers Sermon. 247 

fiight in the midst of heaven? "I am weary," said the 
ambitious Cornelia, ^bf being called Sciplo's Daughter. 
Do sofki^thing, nty sons, to style me the Mother of the« 
Gracchi." And what more laudable ambition can ins;»re 
you, than a desire to be the Mothers of the Missionaries, 
•Con£&ssors, and Martyrs of Jesusf fenerations unborn 
shall call you blessed* The Churches of ^sia and Africa, 
when they make gn^eful mention of their founders, T^ill 
say, Bl€9€ed be the nni^mba which bare thern^ and the 
4ft^a«ta Vfhieh they have sucked J Ye Wives also of the 
Clergy, let it not be said, that, while ye love the milder 
virtues, of the Man, ye are incapable of alliance with the 
grandeur of^the Minister. The Wives of Christian 
Soldiers should learn to rejoice at th^ sound of the bat- 
tle. Rouse then the slumbering 'courage of your soldiers 
to the field; and think no place so safe, so honored, as 
the camp of Jesus. Tell the luissionarv story to yourUt^ 
^ oneB> until their young hearts bum, and, in the spirit 
of tfe©se innocents who shouted Hosahna to ,their lowly 
• King, they cry, "shall not we also be the Missionaries fk 
Jesus Christ?" 

' And what, I beseech you. Brethren^ is the Spirit of 
Missions, but tlie Spint of Christianity operating in i|^ 
divinefst energies, and closely treading in the steps of our 
Lord and of his Apostles? Be it then the peculiar con* 
corn of this Association to fan and spread this hallowed 
flame. From the pulpit and from the pres», again and 
again, let the subject be brought before the Church and 
her Ministers, und^r every possible foi'm. Call forth 
our ablest pens and warmest hearts. Be the tempera* 
ments of men hot or cold; whether their heads or hearts 
must be assailed; only let them be Christian and they 
will be won to our cause. Por what honest mind can 
withstand the consolidated force of scripture and reason, 
with which it may be urged? or what feeling heart re-^ 
«ist the bursts of sacred elocution which it inspires? We 
need only to be brought into contact with it, and we 
Hius^ catch its sj^rit. Nothing christian can sustain 
so strong and briglit a flame. 

What should affright us from this war? It is not the 
voice ef the martial Godfrey, which calls us to slaughter; 
but that of the Good She\>herd, who invites us t6 attend 



\ 



Digitized by LjOOQ IC 



250 Homers Sermon* 

Neither are our hopes less firmly founded on the Brit- 
ish Senate, The care of religion, they deem not beneath 
the dignity of their legislative wisdom. The residence 
of the clergy, the amelioration of their humble sti- 
pends, the support even of a Roman College, the differ- 
ent claims of English Dissenters and Irish CatholicS) 
have all, in their turns, come before them, and have 
been discussed with calmness and dignity^ By that au- 
gust assembly, the chain of Africa has been broken, and 
their country exonerated from a load of bIoo<J. And if 
these comparatively minor points have been respect- 
ed, surely they will lend a patient ear to our common 
Christianity^ the dearest interests of mankind, the ardent 
prayers and joyful hopes of the Universal church; the 
dear-bought purchase of our Redeemer's blood; the 
cause for which the wisdom, goodness, and power of 
the Eternal Majesty at first created, and still supports 
the universe. _ 

The throne, the senate, is not dead,, but aleefieth.. The. 
voice, that is to wake their Christian virtue, must pro- 
'ceed from the altar. And whither should we look, but , 
t<^u, ye venerable men, whom the pleasure of your 
SlBl^'eign, and the Providence of Heaven, have exalted 
to be "Fathers in God," and the great luminaries of the 
church of England? Ye are our greatest— ^be ye our 
best. To you it is given, to a{)proach the throne of 
Majesty; and, without offence, to admonish kings. To 
you it is given to raise your voices among the Princes of 
Britain, and to plead for your Savior and your God. 
Baise then your pastoral voices, and all the clergy shall 
hear. Lead, and your obedient sons will follow: com- 
mand, and they will obey. To your wisdom and piety 
\ye commend the most momentous cause, ever brought 
before a British king and Parliament; and may He, 
whose anvbassadors ye are, bow before you the hearts 
of the soyereign and of the senate and make them alt . 
t© arise to build the House of their God! 

d'a, and eiicouraged the Missionaries by his letters: (See Bu- 
qljanan's Christian Researches in Asia, former part of this vol- 
ume) but my .remark, applies to a National attempt; such 
as might be justly expected from an enlightened Cjiristiaa ^ 
e^untry. 



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Homers Sermon. 251 

Wm not ignoFant, that a century ago, the respecta-. 
ble "Society for promoting Christian knowledge," were 
tlie first to assert the Missionary cause; that under their 
auspices and at their expense, was published the first 
Oriental Version of the Scriptures; that the Lutheran 
Ministers employed in their Missions have been pious, 
-wise, and indefatigable; that Swart^z has leTt behind 
him an apostolic name; that the effects of these Missions 
have been equal, perhaps superior, to what has Jbeen 
done by all the riest of Europe, in that period of time; 
and that they still continue their labors in India. All 
this they have done under great disadvantages and with 
slender funds; when their countrymen, in general, view- 
eel the subject with lifeless apathy, and, for this, they 
inerit the gratitude of the Church. But though it should 
be granted, that they have done all which existing eir-^ 
cunistances would' permit, yet all will not invalidate 
my censures. Nothing has been done by authority, noth- 
ing worthy of England, nothing adequate to the object, 
nothing by the English clergy! What has been done 
for a century, proves the Absolute necessity of calling 
all our forces into the field, and rousing the whole 
church, clergy and laity, to strain every nerve of exer?^. 
tion. Inveterate prejudices yield only to time. Mis- 
sions, at first treated as wild and romantic, begin now to' 
be considered feasible, as well a&- laudable: and, in a 
few years, I trust they will be thouglit the necessary re- 
sult of SOBER Christianity; and that they who refuse to 
concur in them, have virtiially denied thefaith^ and are 
worse than ii\fidel8. 

The trumpet of the Millennial jubilee is, at last, heard 
among the thousands of Israel, and will soeSjt fill all the 
tents of Jacob. Serious Christians of all denominations 
are espousing the cause of missions, and anxious x.o Jire* 
fiare the way of the Lord, Among others, this association 
of attached members of the church of England is not 
ashamed to claim an interest in the Son of David. But, 
sorry am I to say, that the clergy, and the clergy alone 
decline the Cross. We claim the palm; oh, why will w^ 
not deserve it? In the midst of judgment and mercy, 
w'hile war shakes our coasts, shall we recline indolently 
unde^ our vine and fig-tree; and bid our Lord extendThis 



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252 Homers Sermon. 

kingdom, how and by whom he will? In comp&riscAS of 
this, defeat itself were victory. The church, while la- 
mentin.^ their defeat, would magnamitiously console her 
vanquished missionaries; and would renew the war with 
redoubled zeal and better hopes. But, when not on* 
clergyman will arm in the cause of his Redeemer, what 
is to be ^aid? The fact is, I believe, unparalleled in the 
annals of the church/ That it is a fact, I appeal to this 
association, and ask, "Have you, my honored brethreii» 
in Africa, or in the East, one English clergytaan, who 
serves as a missionary?" From such a spirit, little is 
to be hoped; and. if, as I said before, 1 confidently expect 
the clergy will redeem their honor, it is not the lan- 
guage of eulogy that is to rouse tiiem. The cause of 
Missions must be pleaded with a boldness, which know^ 
no fear nor compromise; and in this spirit otily, we -^^cam 
do all things through Christ which stpengt&eneth us. 

Still, this Society is undiscouraged; and despsdrs nei* 
ther of missions, nor of the co-operation of the clergy v 
They patiently wait the salvation of God; and in the 
meanwhile, avail themselves of such instruments as he 
supplies. A small number of pious foreigners, Lutheran 
clergy, are now engaged in their missions. But, high- 
ly as we are obliged to them, highly as we respect 
them, and most cordially as we accept their godly ser- 
vices, my duty^this day obliges to say, that the flower of 
the Lutheran clergy cannot promote our cause like those 
of our own establishment. Their persons, charactei^ 
and connexions are necessarily unknown; and cannot 
excite that lively interest and, emulation, with which we 
should view the labors of our oVn clergy. Independ- 
ently of the disgraceful confession, that we have not pi- 
ety to conduct our own missions, should they be per- 
initted once to flow in a foreign channel, we damp the 
spirit of missions, \and destroy the vital sap that should 
feed them: for the clergy will feel themselves discharg- 
ed from the war; «nd, instead of our spiritand resources 
increasing with success and the demand for greater 'ex- 
ertions, we shall soon relapse into our former apathy. 
Not only our honor, but our Zealand success, depend on 
our employing our own Countrymen, as much as w» 
CAN. The God of Truth will not impute to thelEnglishf 



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Home's Sermon. 253 

clergy, the services of pious foreigners. Our own work 
can£e best done by our own hands. 

The Annual Sermons and Reports of this Society are 
loud calls on the Clergy. Every thing passes tefore our 
eyes, wliich can provoke us to jealousy. We hear, wc 
see: yet the greater part cares not for these things; and 
they who do, content with affording pecuniary aid, with- 
hold unanimously their personal service. Have Carey 
9nd his Baptists had more forgiven than we, that they 
should love more? Have the fervent'^Methodists and pa- 
tient .Moravians been extortionate publicans, that they 
should expend their all, in a cause which we decline? 
Have; our Independent and Lutheran Brethren persecut- 
ed the Church, that they should be now so much more 
eealous, in propagating the faith they once destroyed? 
Would a British army, fed, clotlied, honored, and re- 
-warded by their sovereign, stand inactive, and see brave 
allies bleeding in theiF4>attles, and the fate of their coun- 
try ^uspemied on a foreign sword?i^The Great Dictator 
CMice brought to reason a refractory legioiv by a word;. 
"Citi^ensI depart.*' And fear we not the anger of our Im- 
mortal Sovereign, who now smiteth through kings, sub- 
yerteth thrones, altars, and kingdoms, breaketh the arm 
of the mighty, maketh fpolish the wisdom of cc^unsel- 
lors, trampleth on the necks of prelates, and sendeth 
to us the GalUcan Clergy, to* tell us, that zV w a /<?ar/w/ 
ihing to Jail into the /lands qf the Living God? 

An opinion seems to prevail, that our meanest Minis- 
ters are fittest for Missionaries, and that our best and 
greatest are superior to the office. This opinion, I con- 
ceive, is arrogant and contemptuous; as pregnant with 
mischiefs, as unfounded ijj truth. Surely we can better 
spare one or two great men, than millions of wretched 
Heathens can dispense with their services. An able Gen- 
eral is worth half his army; an apostolic Bishop bitlf his 
Clergy. On great men the Almighty suspends, some- 
times, the fate of Churches and nations; and thi^ is a 
cjusis in ou r ^affairs, Vhich seems to call for the services 
of no common characters. The meanest of our Mis- 
sionaries should be greatly good, to embark in a god- 
like work, on godlike motives. Great activity, itidustry,>' 
patience, fortitude, and perseverance are qualifications 



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254 , Homers SermoiL ' V 

BsssKTiAL to the Missionaiy. Without these, he ncYef 
can succeed. Zeal, disinterestedness, talents, elo^tttioi^ 
will not avail without their firm support How few, even 
of good men, combine a large proportion 9^ these solid 
qualities! B^unt must be that tool, which receives ncK aft 
edge from incessant sharpening; barre;) the soil, which 
derives not fertility from patient cultivation. Men, 
thus diligent in the noblest business, cannot be cb^m 
men; nor shall they stand before mean men, but belope 
the princes of God's people; Usefulness, ^e^^ce,^ and 
honor will attend all their steps. They are the taetk 
whom we want. They have the qualifications of Mission- 
aries, though they should not have one splendid trait 
in their characters. But to these veteran qualities 
which maintain the tug of battle, if we can aocumu^ 
late on our Missionary every endowment of nature and 
every improvement of education, nothings will be sopef'- 
fluotts. We will despise no man: we will fiat^ no tnas. 
it was to no inferior; nor even ruling Angel j that <xod 
comtnitted the work of our salvation. It was delegated 
tb his own dear' Son, and it fileaeed the /^«/[^r, Bot to 
'Spare, but to bruhe^him; to subject him to every sufEbi^ 
ing and indignity, that none might claim- exemption, 
from the peasant to the prince^ In his hand the weakest 
instrument shall be strong^, and the noblest derive dig^- 
nity from his meanest service. The master builders of 
the Sanctuary must be no common artists. Bezaleei and 
Moliaby in whose hearts is the Spirit of Gody in wisdom^ 
in understandings and in knowledge; to know how to work 
all manner of work for the ^nctuartfi mUst build it* 
When on earth, the generous St. Paul could not brook, 
to build on another man's foundation; or to boast of things 
made ready to his hand in another's line of service. 
Could he- be permitted to aid the labors of the Church 
from heaven, what could we offer him but this deserted 
standard, andrrequest him to lead us to Delhi, to Ispahan, 
and Mecca? 

Pre-eminent as the Episcopal Order is now, the Apon* 
ties and Evangelists claimed the glorious work of Mis- 
sions, as their own. It was the post of danger, suffer- 
ing, and labor; and, therefore, the post of honon ' Se 
it is now.' Mean is the man, who thinks it mean- Tk« 



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Home's ^^emunf. 26& 

i^B^e Im sunk in estimation^ because we are too little 
to assert its dignity; but When that day shall Gome-«« 
md come it wiH— when God shall again pour out his 
Spirit from -on high, then we^ shall learn war, and knour 
*how to use mi^ionalry arms. The sword is nothings 
without the hand that wieliils it. The gldHous Gospel 
itself may be made a mere neutral thing. We have-the 
Si«^rd of St. Paul, the sword of God, into whose ethereal 
tetnper the Holy fehost has wrought nil the truth and 
wisdom, all the grace and power of God. On its* double 
edge are life and death. .AH the idols of the East And 
South are destined to fall before its insufferable bright- 
ness. But where is the hand to grasp it? Burning Sera- 
phim would glory to use this immortal weapon: but it 
nrtfy not be. It is the gift of Christ to the Church; aiid it 
is to be used only by conscious imbecility through faith 
in the Lord of the Sword, that all the excellency of the 
weapon and of the faith that uses it, may be ascribed to 
Ood alonev 

Ye Leaders of the Armies of the living God, darei ye^ 
though Christ which strengthentth you^ receive this 
sword, and war with it against those fallen angels, who 
have usurped dominion in Africa and in the East, and 
opposed their bloody altars and filthy mysteries to the 
God whoin ye servp? We offer you the first honors of 
the Church:—- your Master's cufi^ his bafitism^ xhefello^to^ 
shifiof hia sufferings: a confornlity to his life/ who Aacf 
n^t where to lay his head; and a conformity to his deaths 
, who expired on a cross. What more can you covet, than 
to fight conspicuous on the sharpest edge of war, under 
the immediate eye of the Captain of your Salvation, and 
sheltered under his arm, until you die at his feet, and* 
it may be, have your pale brows graced with a martyr's 
crown? Is not this the consummation of all Christian am- 
bition?— enough to satiate the infinite thirst of glory, 
which Christ excites in the Soldiers of the Cross? In com- 
pstrison of ihis, how poor is it, to fi^ll, like Nelson, in the 
arms of Victory— covered with stars, and laurels, and 
honorable wounds; and to be e^bilmed with a nation's 
tears! 

Hear the gracious declarations of your Lord: , Ferily 
I iay unto yoUf that ye^ who havefoU(m€d iMe in the regen* 

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256 Home^a Sermon. 

eratioKjivhen the ^on of man shall nt on the throne ofld$ 
glory ^ shall also sit §n twelve thrones Judging the twelve 
tribes of Israel* And every one that hath forsaken houses^ 
or brethren^ or sisters^ or father^ or mother^ or wife^ of 
children^ or lands for my sakej shaM receive a hundred 
foldy and shaibMnherit eternal life. And whosoever shaH 
do the will qfmy Father who is in heaven^ the same is my 
hrother^ and sister^ and mother. 3rother!-^-Si8teri— 
Mother! — what words of grace are these! If felt aright 

' the Church would never want missionaries or martyrs. 

It may be thought that I am soliciting the migration 

of the Clergy. Far from it. One in a hundi^ed might 

supply our wants a hundred years hence* Would God 

we had twenty! would God yve had ten, worthy of the 

' fanre of the Church of England! whose wisdom might 
direct, whose courage tnight animate, and whose influ* 
cnce might serve as a centre of union to the pious 
youth from our colleges, who would soon resort to our 
standard, when conducted by such leaders. A College 
in the East for Religion and the .Oriental Languages, un* 
der iheii' auspices, might one day rival the famecl Alex- 
andrian School; and produce even naUve students to vi« 
with its most renowned worthies. 

For, next to the difficulty of obtaining Missionaries is 
.that of giving effect to their labors, by affording every 
facility, for the acquisition of the native tongues. Tq re- 
linquish our connejtioris at home requires a painful 
effort; but, when tliat effort is made, the ties which hold 
us shall yield to it, as threads consumed by fire. At per- 
sonal hardship and inconvenience, the Christian will 
smile. The care and provision of our wives and or- 
phanstouch the tenderest cliords of nature: the hero feels 
as a man, and the saint is not ashamed to be so: but the 
pang, tbough sharp, is transient: these loved pledges 
we bequeath to the Church, and Jesus will place them 
u|ider the care of some Beloved Disciple. Glorious 
martyrdom is thrown so far into the back ground of the 
Missionary Picture, that it is hardly to be seen; and, if 
seen at all, it will, I trust, be viewed as the crown of hon- 
orable love and approved service. But, for adults again 
to go to school; for ministers to lay aside their Bibles for 
grammars;. to devote their prime of life, which they 



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Homers Sermdn. ^7 

would think best itnprovcd in the delightful^ labors of 
the pulpit, to the painful acquirement of languages; and 
perhaps, to fall victims to disease, before they have vyell 
entered on their Missions— these are, indeed, discourag- 
ing considerations. So much so, that some good men 
despair of any success worthy of our efforts, unless the 
Gift of Tongues were revived in the Church. To thiJ^ 
objection our reply is simple and obvious— 77fe king*s 
busineaa requircth haste. We have no alternative but 
to obey, and to leaved the issue with God. Judah and 
Israel shall be gathered. The fulness of the Gentiles 
shall be brought in. All this shall be done. TV^e zeatof 
the Lord of Ho at 9 shall perform this. But, whether this 
be effected, by ordinary or extraordinary means, is of no 
importance. Miracles are great things to little man; 
nothing to the glorious God. To him Uiey cannot be ne- 
cessary; and therefore not to us. For nve can do all things,^ 
through ChrisS which strengtheneth us. Nevertheless, 
that assistance, which we cannot command from the. ex- 
traordinary gifts of the Spirit, we ought the more solicit- 
ously to implore from the succors of his grace. If we 
cannot speak with tongues, we ought, at least, care- 
fully to provide every means to facilitate the study cf 
languages; and should avail ourselves, in its utmost ex- 
tent, of the advantages of the press. 

To produce those strenuous exertions, necessary to 
tl^e end which we would obtain, we must be raised and 
fired, by near views of the glory of the latter day. To 
faith, as to the God "whom she serves, a thousand years 
are as one day.' Nevertheless, let us not indulge illusive 
hopes of immediate and splendid success. As yet wo 
are only exploring the perils of the desert, and not enter- 
ing on the Land of Promise. We may expect a night, 
long, dark, and perhaps tempestuous; and should be pre- 
pared to toil patiently at the gar, in sure and certain 
hope of a bright morning, when our Master shall come 
to us walking on the waters, |aid our weather-beaten 
bark shall rest in a secure haven. 

One word more, my brethren. * Let nothing which 

I have said be construed as tending to insinuate that 

ALL ministers who decline a personal engagement in 

missions, are therefore indifferent to their succe6S. 

22 



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258 fiofn^s Siermm^ * 

God forbid. Vert VEwof tis cau be catted to that sei^- 
vice. Some of us certainly are; and, as it is impossible 
to eay, who %re the disobedient prophets, who resist thfr 
Holy Ghosf, censures, particular in their ap|>Hcation^ 
must be conveyed in general terms. But certain I ain, 
that many hoary veterans would gladly renew their youtilv 
ta reap the harvest of so rich a field. Many young sol- 
diers ai'e ardent to engage; but modesty and inexperience 
%vithhold ^hem. Not for themselves, but for the ark of 
Crod, they fear: and, wheo their Pentecost shall fuUjr 
^ome, they will go forth as Christ's joyful witnesses. 
Above all, let none, whose zeal shall engage them first 
to take the cross, fondly imagine, that they only dare to* 
meet the alien Foe. They- may be assured that they wiH 
leave behind them many more p.ieus than themselves^ 
and whose faithful prayers, under the blessing of God, 
will be the surest pledges of their own success. If a 
righteous indignation, to see the armies of the Living 
God defiled by the proud and sanguinary demons of the 
Gentiles, embolden them to advance to the perilous en- 
counter, let it be in the modest spirit of David, who 
trusted not in his sling and stone, but ia that God whose 
soldier he was. In this spirit, they may "Well disregard 
ihe malice of envious brethren, who say. We know your 
firiclty and the naughtiness of your hearts. For ia there 
?iot an imperious cauae^ why striplings should seek to' 
fight, when neither brave Jonathan draws the swood^i 
nor warlike Abner Jifts the spear? 

Go forth, then, ye soldiers of the Cross; and may the ■ 
God whom ye serve go forth with you, and teachytmr 
hands to war and your Jingera tojightl Rejoice in your, 
high and holy calling; and, in the grateful and humble 
triumph of your souls, say, Unto usy who are leaa than 
the least of all snints^ im this grace given^ that we should 
Jirpach among the Gentiles^ the unsearchable richer of^ 
Christ, 

Now unto the King eternal, immortti^H invi^^b^* t^^^ 
only wise God, be praise,, power, and domiftioo in ^ ^f. 
Church, throughout all ages. Amenl ^ 



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